Lost in transmission? Comparing emotional profiles in transmitted vs. remembered family memories

This research investigated the emotions associated with intergenerational memories within families. Across three studies, we examined the perspectives of transmitters (parents and grandparents) and receivers (children and grandchildren) regarding important family memories. In Studies 1 and 2, transmitters selected memories they had previously shared with a specific family member, whereas receivers independently selected memories told by the same family member. Study 3 combined these datasets to compare emotional patterns across generations. Across studies, transmitters reported higher emotional intensity than receivers, consistent with the idea that lived experiences evoke stronger emotions than vicarious memories. Differences in valence and discrete emotions emerged depending on generational roles: grandparents' stories were less negative than parents' stories, while grandchildren recalled grandparents' stories as eliciting greater admiration, happiness, pride, and respect than children recalled parents' stories. These findings highlight how the emotional characteristics of intergenerational memories reflect both the storyteller's experiences and the receiver's perspective, and they provide new insights into the socioemotional functions of family storytelling.