Autobiographical memory and recovered memory therapy: Integrating cognitive, clinical, and individual difference perspectives

Abstract

This article proposes an integration of contemporary cognitive work on autobiograpical memory with a more clinical research orientation that also acknowledges the importance of individual difference factors. A rationale for this integration is provided by first discussing the inherent ties between autobiographical memory and clinical psychology concerns, with a special emphasis being placed on the accuracy issues surrounding recovered memory therapies. Following this, we review research contributions from the cognitive psychology domain that have facilitated our understanding of the accuracy and malleability of autobiographical memories. Findings from both the reality monitoring and misinformation paradigms are described in detail, as they provide the cognitive underpinnings for our proposed integration. This cognitive-based review also highlights three individual difference variables that are of particular importance; namely, hypnotic susceptibility, vividness of visual imagery, and levels of absorption. The potential impact of each of these individual difference variables on the techniques typically employed in recovered memory therapy (i.e., hypnosis, guided imagery, and journalling) is then described. An integrative approach is advanced by indicating how both the reality monitoring and misinformation paradigms from cognitive psychology can be adapted to study autobiographical memory accuracy issues in a more clinically relevant manner. The paper concludes with a discussion of several clinical practice implications that stem from our proposed integration.