How storytelling shapes memory and impressions of relationship events overtime

In 4 longitudinal studies, the authors explicated how storytelling about re lationships biases subsequent impressions in the direction of the story tol d. In Study 1, storytelling about a relationship conflict vignette biased i mpressions of blame 2 weeks later, even with memory bias neutralized. Study 2 tracked 2 distinct and variable influences on blame,-storytelling heuris tic and memory mediated mechanisms-over a 40-week period. Heuristic but not memory mediated effects depended on story quality. In Study 3, the need fo r structure moderated use of the storytelling heuristic. In Study 4, storyt elling biased impressions of real-life relationship conflicts 8 weeks later . In light of past research indicating that storytelling and idealization c haracterize satisfied relationships, the present results suggest that the c ognitive side effects of storytelling may help cause idealization and satis faction in relationships.