Functioning of cognitive codes in autobiographical memory and the self—Is the self visual?

Abstract

The main goal was to test the relationship between types of cognitive codes (perceptual-imaginative and verbal-propositional) and autobiographical memory. The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether there are independent processes serving the self, depending on separate cognitive codes. Sixty adult participants completed the NEO-FFI inventory using two kinds of procedure: perceptual-imaginative code or verbal-propositional code. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used for analysis. The study has shown the dynamic of the self, depending on two cognitive perspectives. The results indicate that the reflection of the self in autobiographical memory brings different knowledge about the self and its motives.