| The problem. This study addresses the problem: Can a critical examination of existing psychological literature provide material for a systemic understanding of the organization of self, and an object relations understanding of the content of self, within autobiographical memory, for the purpose of constructing a theory of autobiographical memory as self, with applications for psychotherapy, theory, research and practice?;Method. This study includes a systems theory of personality interaction applied to personal development, object relations theory of self development, and a detailed presentation of autobiographical memory (Bruhn, 1990; Friedman, 1985; Gurman and Kniskern, 1991), viewed as the subjective narrative of personal history. Systems and object relations theories are utilized forming a theoretical foundation upon which the conceptual framework of autobiographical memory as self is developed and applied. Autobiographical memory is utilized as method in formulation of the self.;Results. Autobiographical memory consists of an active, reflective memory process producing the essence of one's "self" through organized structures of consciousness. The organized structures of consciousness are created from lived experience generating multiple memories and forms of memory. Experiences creating memory may come from time, location, person, place, introject, reflected appraisal or other source. One's lived experience is constructed in memory and contains essential meaning of experience for the individual utilized in defining self.;Results support that autobiographical memory and the self share significant overlap and that autobiographical memory is the method through which one knows the self. Five working propositions emerged and are presented for further consideration, research and theoretical discourse related to autobiographical memory and the self. They were: (1) autobiographical memory has many types forming one collective, collaborative memory; (2) memory is self-referential; (3) mood/affect play a major role in what and how an individual remembers; (4) memory is accumulated throughout life as it is lived; and (5) autobiographical memory and self share significant overlap. |
