Does Sharing Memories Make Us Feel Closer? The Roles of Memory Type and Culture

The present research examined the effects of sharing different types of memories on perceived relationship closeness and how that is related to psychological well-being in a cross-cultural context. In two studies, European American and Asian participants (total N = 714) reported their feelings of cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cross-cultural psychology Vol. 53; no. 3-4; pp. 344 - 361
Main Authors: Guan, Li, Wang, Qi
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.04.2022
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects:
Autobiographical memory
Closeness
Conversation
Cross cultural studies
Cultural Context
Cultural differences
Cultural factors
Information dissemination
Information sharing
Memories
Memory
Psychological well being
Roles
Sharing
Sociocultural factors
Well being
relationship closeness
vicarious memory
autobiographical memory
memory sharing
culture
ISSN:0022-0221, 1552-5422
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The present research examined the effects of sharing different types of memories on perceived relationship closeness and how that is related to psychological well-being in a cross-cultural context. In two studies, European American and Asian participants (total N = 714) reported their feelings of closeness to a conversation partner in hypothetical situations that involved five types of information sharing: specific and general autobiographical memories, specific and general vicarious memories, and non-person information. Sharing memories led to greater feelings of closeness than sharing non-person information in both groups. Asians felt closer to the conversation partner than European Americans across all types of information sharing. Sharing autobiographical and specific memories led to greater closeness than sharing vicarious and general memories in both groups, although sharing specific autobiographical memories appeared most effective for relationship closeness for European Americans. Perceived relationship closeness following conversational exchanges was positively associated with psychological well-being across cultures.
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ISSN:0022-0221
1552-5422
DOI:10.1177/00220221211072809