Definitions of Autobiographical Memory

Abstract

This chapter addresses a major concern voiced formally and informally at the conference, that of definition. It is argued that there is no problem with the definition of autobiographical memory that is not inherited from the definition of memory itself. Moreover, a common concept of autobiographical memory would be a mistake for a group of scientists who vary so in their beliefs of what constitutes evidence, methods, and theory. All that is needed is a language that is usually mutually intelligible. By adapting studies from different approaches, researchers can make greater progress than they could by forcing their work into a more uniform shared set of principles. The study of autobiographical memory allows and demands interaction across disciplines in a way that is difficult to find elsewhere. This interaction has already yielded insights that would be difficult to obtain in other ways and holds promise for the advancement of individual programs of research.