ABSTRACT
Only some of the theories we review make a clear distinction between the emotional quality of memories for life experiences and the emotional quality of the original experiences themselves. As researchers rarely know the actual details surrounding the original experiences reported by participants, the memory rather than the original experience must be our focus. Moreover, memory is crucial because experiences usually have long-term effects only indirectly through memory. For example, if George has a fender-bender, the experience may affect him directly for a short time (e.g., he may suffer whiplash, he will need to have his car repaired, and his insurance rates will increase temporarily). But once these “sequelae” (Wagenaar, 1986) of the experience have subsided, George’s experience will affect him mainly through memory. Does he remember the accident as being his fault, or the other driver’s? Does he continue to remember the accident at all, or is it one of the myriad daily experiences that are simply forgotten? Does he remember feeling pain, guilt, fear, or nothing at all? The implications of the final question for George’s self-concept and his adjustment will be explored in this chapter.
