De architectuur van Memory Lane: Onderzoek naar de centraliteit van levensgebeurtenissen bij psychopathologie

The autobiographic memory is the explicit aspect of memory which contains the recollection of personally experienced past events of both positive, and negative or even traumatic events. It is already shown that autobiographical memory and traumatic experiences are tied together. One of the theories which tries to explain why autobiographical memory, traumatic experiences, and symptoms of psychopathology are related is the Event Centrality theory of Berntsen and Rubin (2006). Berntsen and Rubin suggest that, because of the distinctiveness and emotion impact of the traumatic memory, the memory of the traumatic event stays highly accessible, may form a reference point for the autobiographical memory, and can have a continuous impact on other every experiences. Here, event centrality is defined as the extent to which the memory of a traumatic event forms a reference point for personal identity and the attribution of meaning to other experiences in a person's life, and is measured with the Centrality of Event Scale (CES; Berntsen & Rubin, 2006). Correlational research has shown that individuals who tend to place the memory of a traumatic event more central in their life-story experience more trauma related symptoms of psychopathology. Research has already shown that event centrality and symptoms of PTSD are correlated, although this relation might be fully mediated by different factors. Moreover, no causal research has been carried out on the direction of this association, which thus remains unclear. Research on the relation between event centrality and depression have showed mixed relation, where studies have found, a direct relation, an indirect relation, and no relation. Limited research is done on the link between event centrality and anxiety, and these studies have shown mixed results. Controversially, also a strong relation was found between event centrality and posttraumatic growth, however no prospective or causal relation was yet found. The first part of my research will focus on the psychometric properties of the Centrality of Event Scale, in both student and clinical sample. In addition, we will also test whether event centrality is a trans-diagnostic factor among PTSD, depression and social anxiety. Moreover, with this research we will contribute to the studies on the link between event centrality and depression and social anxiety, which are at this point still inconclusive. The second part of my research will focus on exploring the causal link between event centrality and different forms of psychopathology. In our first study, we will test whether it is possible to decrease the level of event centrality, and whether this decrease of event centrality will lead to a decrease in symptoms of psychopathology. In a possible second study, we will test whether a more positive interpretation of the centrality of the negative event will lead to more positive outcomes.