ABSTRACT
Research about the relationship between culture and autobiographical memory have reported consistent cross-cultural variations in autobiographical memory. These differences are related to cultural variations in models of self-construal. Studies in this field have been based on Markus and Kitayama’s notion of independent and interdependent self-construal. Despite its seminal influence, this distinction has been criticized for being too dichotomic and homogeneous and for not considering variations of self-construal within cultural groups and across situations. In general, most studies have embraced a very simplistic view of culture, confounding it with nationality. This has led to – implicitly – assuming that cultures are homogeneous. In contrast with this perspective, it is necessary to consider variations in self-construal and autobiographical memory across cultural practices.
Starting from the previous framework, we have developed a series of studies to analyze the relationship between sociocultural and historical factors and autobiographical memory and self-construal. The first study compared the self-construals of two generation of adults in Slovakia (a former communist country) and Denmark. The second series of studies documented differences in autobiographical memory and self-construal associated with formal education background, consistent with Greenfield’s theory about the developmental pathway to independence. Taken together, our studies demonstrate the complexity of the relationship between culture, self-construal, and autobiographical memory.
