Two distinct lines of research characterize the psychological study of the sense of self and identity. The research field of autobiographical memory asks experimental questions such as the conditions of retrieval and forgetting. The research field of narrative identity examines how people attribute meaning to their lives and develop a sense of personal identity through the stories they tell about themselves. Each line of research taps into important facets of identity, but currently, both fields inform each other only partially. This article aims to bridge the gap by outlining the similarities and differences between the two fields. Reviewing central research questions, methods, and key findings, this article emphasizes theoretical, methodological, and empirical convergences across the two fields and proposes specific research initiatives to encourage both fields to join methodologies.
Christin Camia (Sat,) studied this question.