The construction of autobiographical memories in the self-memory system

The authors describe a model of autobiographical memory in which memories a re transitory mental constructions within a self-memory system (SMS). The S MS contains an autobiographical knowledge base and current goals of the wor king self. Within the SMS, control processes modulate access to the knowled ge base by successively shaping cues used to activate autobiographical memo ry knowledge structures and, in this way, form specific memories. The relat ion of the knowledge base to active goals is reciprocal, and the knowledge base "grounds" the goals of the working self. It is shown how this model ca n be used to draw together a wide range of diverse data from cognitive, soc ial, developmental, personality, clinical, and neuropsychological autobiogr aphical memory research.