Intrinsic survival value and intentional forgetting: domain- and memory-dependent effects in item-method directed forgetting

The present study examined whether intrinsic survival value modulates intentional forgetting in the item-method directed forgetting paradigm and whether this modulation depends on adaptive domain and memory measure. Across four experiments, Spanish words rated for intrinsic survival value were selected from two adaptive domains, obtaining food and avoiding death, and varied in survival value (high vs. neutral). Experiments 1a and 1b assessed free recall, whereas Experiments 2a and 2b assessed recognition. Directed forgetting was robust across experiments, with remember-cued words consistently remembered better than forget-cued words. In free recall, intrinsic survival value enhanced memory in both domains, although its relation to directed forgetting differed. In the obtaining food domain, high survival-value words were recalled better than neutral words even after forget instructions, whereas in the avoiding death domain survival value produced an overall memory advantage without altering directed forgetting. Recognition further qualified this pattern. In the obtaining food domain, intrinsic survival value did not influence recognition. By contrast, in the avoiding death domain, high survival-value words showed greater recognition following forget instructions, reflected in higher recognition sensitivity. These findings indicate that intrinsic survival value influences memory under intentional forgetting, but its effects vary according to adaptive domain and memory measure.