The relationship between emotions and autobiographical memories

Abstract

This article is devoted to the analysis of the relationship between emotions and autobiographical memories as fundamental mental processes that ensure the integrity of personal identity and the subjective continuity of life experience. The review is based on contemporary empirical and theoretical studies published in international and national scientific databases and aims to identify patterns in how the emotional valence of events influences the processes of encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories. Particular attention is paid to the role of the affective significance of experiences in enhancing selectivity and long-term retention of information, as well as to the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the interaction between emotional and mnemonic systems.

The article examines differences between positive and negative memories in terms of their accessibility, vividness, level of detail, and temporal stability. It analyzes the phenomena of moodcongruent and mood-dependent recall, the mechanisms underlying the formation of involuntary and traumatic memories, and their impact on individuals’ behavioral and emotional responses. Empirical data on age-related and clinical moderators, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, are presented, highlighting their role in shaping the functioning of autobiographical memory.

The article emphasizes the existing research gap in Kazakhstani psychology, where systematic work on this topic remains limited despite the importance of considering the historical, cultural, and traumatic context in the formation of individual and collective experience, as well as the need for further interdisciplinary research in this field.