title: Directed forgetting of recently recalled autobiographical memories.
abstract: In 6 experiments, the authors investigated list-method directed forgetting of recently recalled autobiographical memories. Reliable directed forgetting effects were observed across all experiments. In 4 experiments, the authors examined the impact of memory valence on directed forgetting. The forget instruction impaired recall of negative, positive, and neutral memories equally, although overall, participants recalled fewer unemotional memories than emotional memories. The preexisting organization of memories enhanced the directed forgetting effect, and a release from forgetting occurred only when the forgotten memories were directly cued. The authors discuss the roles of emotion, retrieval dynamics, and organization in these effects and suggest that the directed forgetting of recently recalled autobiographical memories may reflect the inhibition of recently formed memories of remembering, that is, episodic inhibition. The authors consider the implications of these findings for the control of autobiographical remembering in everyday life.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. abarnier@maccs.mq.edu.au
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barnier
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Lyndel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayoh
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Speyer
authors.forename: Orit
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Avizmil
authors.forename: Celia B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001325:Autobiographies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors