Psychology Program, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
PLoS One. 2021 May 3;16(5):e0251004. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251004. eCollection 2021.
Do the reasons why we think about our memories and share them with others have implications for our romantic relationship quality? In the present series of studies (total N = 1,102), we aimed to answer this question by examining whether the self (e.g., creating a stable self-image), social (e.g., connecting with others) and directive (e.g., guiding future behavior) functions of regular memories (Study 1, Study 2) and relationship memories (Study 2, Study 3) were related to intimacy and satisfaction in the current relationship. We further investigated these links when relationship memories were shared with the romantic partner (Study 3). Results showed no association between the self-reported uses of memory for regular events and relationship quality. In contrast, the social function served by the relationship events was positively associated, and the directive function was negatively associated with intimacy and relationship satisfaction. When the memories were to be shared with the partner, only social function was related, positively, to the relationship satisfaction. Findings were discussed in terms of the importance of considering the self-reported reasons for recalling an event and understanding of the contextual factors in remembering.
我们思考记忆并与他人分享记忆的原因是否会对我们的浪漫关系质量产生影响？在本系列研究中（总计 N=1102），我们旨在通过考察常规记忆（研究 1、研究 2）和关系记忆（研究 2、研究 3）的自我功能（例如，建立稳定的自我形象）、社会功能（例如，与他人联系）和指令功能（例如，指导未来行为）是否与当前关系中的亲密感和满意度相关来回答这个问题。我们进一步研究了当与浪漫伴侣分享关系记忆时（研究 3）这些联系。结果表明，常规事件记忆的自我报告用途与关系质量之间没有关联。相比之下，关系事件的社会功能与亲密感和关系满意度呈正相关，指令功能与亲密感和关系满意度呈负相关。当这些记忆要与伴侣分享时，只有社会功能与关系满意度呈正相关。研究结果从考虑回忆事件的自我报告原因和理解记忆的上下文因素的重要性方面进行了讨论。
