Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Approaches to the study of autobiographical memory
- 2 The basic systems model of autobiographical memory
- 3 Identity, emotion, and the social matrix of autobiographical memory: a psychoanalytic narrative view
- 4 On the nature of autobiographical memory
- 5 Reflections on autobiographical memory
- Part II Neural studies of autobiographical memory
- Part III Social and cultural aspects of autobiographical memory
- Part IV Development of autobiographical memory from infancy to old age
- Part V Evolution and basic processes of autobiographical memory
- Part VI Discussion
- Index
- References
5 - Reflections on autobiographical memory
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2012
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Approaches to the study of autobiographical memory
- 2 The basic systems model of autobiographical memory
- 3 Identity, emotion, and the social matrix of autobiographical memory: a psychoanalytic narrative view
- 4 On the nature of autobiographical memory
- 5 Reflections on autobiographical memory
- Part II Neural studies of autobiographical memory
- Part III Social and cultural aspects of autobiographical memory
- Part IV Development of autobiographical memory from infancy to old age
- Part V Evolution and basic processes of autobiographical memory
- Part VI Discussion
- Index
- References
Summary
I was very pleased to be invited to contribute to this book marking the foundation of a center for the study of autobiographical memory in Aarhus, but somewhat daunted, given that I have not worked in the area for a number of years. I have, however, just written a chapter on the topic in a recent textbook (Baddeley, Eysenck, and Anderson, 2009), but had emerged from my review feeling that the field still seemed somewhat fragmented and atheoretical. This seemed a good opportunity to help celebrate the foundation of a center that explicitly aims to change that perception.
Labels and definitions
I do not subscribe to the view that concepts and theories require precise definition before they can be fruitfully applied. On the contrary, my view of precise definitions is that they are possible only when one has a good understanding of the broad area, and, in the case of autobiographical memory, this is not yet. However, I think that the way in which a concept is labeled can have a major effect on its acceptance and subsequent popularity, an effect that can be positive, but may also lead to confusion if different people use the same labels in different ways. I think this is the case in the study of autobiographical memory.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Understanding Autobiographical MemoryTheories and Approaches, pp. 70 - 88Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012
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