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Abstract

The assumption that memory is superior for emotional events is widespread and appears in most introductory psychology textbooks as well as in the popular media. However, the evidence from episodic memory research remains mixed, which leaves uncertainty as to how emotions influence memory and when emotional enhancement effects are likely to occur. My dissertation consisted of a meta-analysis along with three large-scale experiments, using memory tests that varied by the extent to which they relied on integrative/environmentally-driven versus elaborative/self-initiated processing (Craik, 1983,1986): Experiment 1 focused on old/new recognition of valenced and neutral pictures, Experiment 2 used associative recognition of randomly-paired valenced and neutral pictures, and Experiment 3 used free recall to assess memory for valenced and neutral pictures. The main findings from my meta-analysis and from my three large-scale experiments, validate the common belief that emotional events are remembered better than neutral ones, validating also more specific assumptions that the emotional enhancement effect is larger for negative than for positive pictures, larger in free recall than in recognition memory, and also larger after a long retention interval than a short one. My meta-analysis and experimental work were guided by a novel theoretical account I call Emotional Events Interrupt-Processing Augment (EEI/PA) theory. The theory provides a cognitive-processing explanation of how valence influences episodic memory for emotional events. The EEI/PA theory predicted the main findings from my meta-analysis, as well as those of my experiments, all of which tested the EEI/PA’s core assumption: that valence influences encoding-phase accommodative/elaborative processing, but not assimilative/integrative processing. My dissertation demonstrates that the EEI/PA theory can completely explain the findings based on the influence of valence, like arousal-based theories have been used to explain similar kinds of findings. My dissertation further highlights the need for an integrated account that identifies the unique contributions of both valence and arousal to the way in which we remember emotional events.