Highly emotional personal events can result in the same vivid flashbulb memories as are seen following public tragedies. The current talk examines one such event: the moment a parent receives a Down syndrome (DS) diagnosis for their child. I will explore how interpersonal interactions and support—from medical professionals, the broader DS community, and one’s own social network—influence the emotionality and richness of memories over time. Lack of medical and social support were associated with greater negative emotion, while involvement in the DS community was associated with the production of more memory details, suggesting a potential role of rehearsal.

Throughout our lifespan, memories of significant life events play a crucial role in shaping our sense of self and well-being. For some, the transition to parenthood is one such pivotal event, particularly when couples or individuals face unexpected fertility difficulties. In my talk, I will present initial results from a longitudinal, prospective study suggesting that infertility-related medical experiences, particularly negative news, can form poignant, detailed long-term memories. I will also explore whether negatively charged fertility memories shape well­-being and mental health, including symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress.

Religious and spiritual doubt (R/S doubt) often arises in young adulthood and is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. Despite these associations, there is little research examining ways that individuals emotionally process past R/S doubt. I will present results demonstrating that details and subjective valence of autobiographical memories for R/S doubt are more negative than non-R/S doubts for important life experiences. Also, both of these emotional memory characteristics of R/S doubt are associated with higher endorsement of religious and spiritual struggles. These findings point to promising research avenues in therapeutic and religious settings.

Recent evidence shows that memories of forgiven wrongdoings, as opposed to not forgiven ones, are experienced with less negative valence and lower emotional intensity at retrieval. However, the nature of remembered wrongdoings vary, suggesting that other factors may influence the way in which we remember them. Here we explore two such factors: the interpersonal distance between victim and perpetrator and the severity of the wrongdoing. We will present the results of two studies showing that the emotional effects of forgiveness persist regardless of interpersonal closeness and severity of the remembered wrongdoing.

Much of the foundational work on emotional memory came from studying memories for public events. By focusing on experiences that are both highly personal and also shared across individuals, these studies build on that foundational work while also breaking new ground. In my remarks, I will consider the importance of focusing not on a memory’s accuracy but on the impacts of a memory’s framing. I also will discuss the impact of considering the social framework in which personal memories are embedded, and how doing so may add important additional layers to be incorporated into models of emotional memory.