Benlik tanımlayıcı anılar: Özellikleri, benlik ve hedeflerle ilişkileri

The aim of this study was to investigate the existence and the characteristics of self-defining memories, as well as their link with goals and with self. In this study, participants reported self-defining, non self-defining, affective and persistent, non affective and non persistent memories and they rated these memories first in terms of their phenomenological characteristics, second in terms of their relevance to participants? own goals, third in terms of their relevance to participants? self-concept. The results supported the claim that self-defining memories are vivid, affectively intense, repetitively recalled autobiographical memories which are linked to other similar memories and related to individuals? current issues and concerns. These memories were also found to be more relevant to one?s self-concept and current goals than non self-defining memories. Besides, several memory characteristics were found to predict self-definition: the extent to which an autobiographical memory is important, the extent to which this memory is constructed in relation with other similar memories, first person perspective and visual imagery. This is the first study which compares self-defining memories to non self-defining memories and which is based on self-reports in investigating the link between self-defining memories and self-concept.