Is there an infidelity-based reproductive processing advantage in adaptive memory? Effects of survival processing and jealousy processing on recall performance

Abstract

ABSTRACT The survival processing effect is enhanced memory for the items processed in relation to a survival scenario. According to the adaptive memory framework, a similar mnemonic advantage can be expected to emerge when items are processed in a reproduction context. The present study investigated the effects of survival processing and infidelity-based reproductive processing on recall memory, using scenarios that were matched in terms of the number of problems and the perceived threat. In four within-subject conditions (survival, sexual infidelity, emotional infidelity and pleasantness), 134 participants rated words on how helpful they are to survive, to detect infidelity, and how pleasant they are. The results showed a survival processing effect. None of the infidelity conditions led to enhanced recall memory, regardless of the participants’ sex. Taken together with the previous studies, the current findings suggest that there is no infidelity-based reproductive processing effect that is comparable to the survival processing advantage.