Induction of Positive Affect Utilizing Autobiographical Memories
Jessica Morales Rodeles
Department of Psychology
Faculty Supervisor: Melissa J Hagan
Positive memory recall may be an effective mood regulation strategy (Joorman & Seirman, 2004; Josephson, Singer, & Salovey, 1996). The current study sought to evaluate whether positive memories from childhood had a stronger effect on mood changes relative to memories from adulthood. Undergraduate students at SFSU (n = 77; 78% Women; Mean age = 23.8 years) were randomized to three autobiographical memory conditions: 1) positive childhood memory recall (n = 24), 2) positive recent memory recall, and 3) recall of a neutral recent memory, and responded to a prompt modified from a study by St. Jaques & Levine (2007) to elicit a written description of an autobiographical memory. They completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson et al., 1988) prior to and immediately following memory recall, as well as measures of early adversity and depression, which will be included as covariates. We hypothesize that 1) positive childhood and positive recent autobiographical memories will both have a positive effect on subsequent mood relative to the recall of a neutral memory, and 2) a positive childhood memory would have a stronger positive effect on subsequent mood relative to a positive recent memory. The findings from this study could lead to more effective mood regulation interventions.