Intercorrelations Between RIF and Emotional Autobiographical Memory -Focusing on Emotional Valence and the Number of Recalls for Each Emotion-

Abstract

It has been suggested that memory inhibition underlying retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) plays a key role in preventing the retrieval of negative autobiographical memories. In present study, we focused on individual differences in RIF and in autobiographical memory performance. A negative correlation was found between RIF and the number of negative events recalled, while a positive correlation was found between RIF and the emotional valence of autobiographical memory. These results indicate that those with the high RIF effect forget negative memory and recall more positive memory. Based on these findings, it suggests that memory inhibition plays a crucial role in emotion regulation.