Cultural Difference in General Memory and Specific Memory

Abstract

In this study, 68 Asian or Asian American students and 84 European American or White students from Cornell University were asked to recall their general memories and specific memories. Participants also rated their memory detailedness, memory valence, and emotional intensity for each of their memories, as well as their self-construal. This empirical study found that across cultures, people tend to recall more specific memories than general memories. Moreover, this study found an interaction effect between memory type and culture on memory accessibility, with Asians recalling more general events, whereas European Americans recalling more specific events. Our findings suggested that specific memories, compared with general memories, tended to be stronger in emotional intensity. Lastly, we found that independent self-construal would be helpful for individuals to report positive and intense emotion in their specific memory.