Memory functions––or the reasons people reminisce––have primarily been studied retrospectively using self-report. In the current study, memory functions were coded directly from emotionally charged conversations between mothers and their adolescents. One hundred and eight Turkish mother-adolescent pairs ( M adolescent age 15 years; 1 month) talked about three one-point-in-time events they had experienced together, cued by distinct emotions (sadness, anger, happiness); each utterance was coded using a coding scheme reflecting known functions (social, self, directive). The frequency of memory functions was evaluated by conversation participant, emotion cue, and adolescents’ gender. Self-function was predominant among adolescents, with social and directive functions predominant among mothers. Different patterns of functions across emotions were apparent. Results are discussed in view of prior work on memory functions and cultural contexts of reminiscing. • A coding scheme for autobiographical memory functions was developed. • The coding scheme was used to examine the role of family member and emotion type in mother-adolescent dyads’ reminiscing. • The self-function was predominant among adolescents, whereas social and directive functions were predominant among mothers. • Mothers’ scaffolding role was more prominent during conversations about emotionally negative events.
Elibol-Pekaslan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.