Two versions of life: Emotionally negative and positive life events have different roles in the organization of life story and identity.

Abstract

Over 2,000 adults in their sixties completed the Centrality of Event Scale (CES) for the traumatic or negative event that now troubled them the most and for their most positive life event, as well as measures of current PTSD symptoms, depression, well-being, and personality. Consistent with the notion of a positivity bias in old age, the positive events were judged to be markedly more central to life story and identity than were the negative events. The centrality of positive events was unrelated to measures of PTSD symptoms and emotional distress, whereas the centrality of the negative event showed clear positive correlations with these measures. The centrality of the positive events increased with increasing time since the events, whereas the centrality of the negative events decreased. The life distribution of the positive events showed a marked peak in young adulthood whereas the life distribution for the negative events peaked at the participants’ present age. The positive events were mostly events from the cultural life script – that is, culturally shared representations of the timing of major transitional events. Overall, our findings show that positive and negative autobiographical events relate markedly differently to life story and identity. Positive events become central to life story and identity primarily through their correspondence with cultural norms. Negative events become central through mechanisms associated with emotional distress.

Above and beyond emotional valence: The unique contribution of central and traumatic shame memories to psychopathology vulnerability

“…Simultaneously, research on autobiographical and traumatic memory has focused on the relevance of emotional memories that become central to self-understanding and life narrative to psychological difficulties (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006, 2007Berntsen et al 2011;Boals, 2010;Thomsen & Berntsen, 2009). However, no research had yet examined whether there is specificity in the way shame memories structured as central and traumatic memories impact on psychopathology that exceeds the negative emotionality underlying these recollections.…”

“…In fact, empirical evidence suggests that shame recollections from childhood and adolescence can become a central component of personal identity, a turning point in the life story and a reference point for attribution of meaning to other events .These findings support the centrality of event theory (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006, 2007, according to which a memory of a trauma or a negative emotional event can become central to one's life story and identity. Higher centrality of a negative or traumatic event have been related to increased levels of posttraumatic stress reactions, depression, anxiety, and dissociation, and worse physical health (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006, 2007Berntsen, Rubin & Siegler, 2011;Boals, 2010;.…”

The pains and pleasures of parenting: When, why, and how is parenthood associated with more or less well-being?

“…Parents often refer to their children as "bundles of joy" or "the light of my life," and research indicates that young adults consider having children a valuable part of adult life (Gerson et al, 1991); accordingly, 85% proceed to become parents by age 45 (Child Trends, 2002). Furthermore, 94% of parents say that having children is worth it despite the costs (Martinez, Chandra, Abma, Jones, & Mosher, 2006), and parents report that having children is the most positive event in their lives (Berntsen, Rubin, & Siegler, 2011). In a sample of older adults, no parents reported regret over having children, yet some childless individuals regretted not having children (Hattiangadi, Medvec, & Gilovich, 1995).…”

Event centrality in trauma and PTSD: relations between event relevance and posttraumatic symptoms

“…This could alter the tendency for a more positive life events narrative (Boals, 2010), making way for traumatic events that come to be central to exert negative impacts on mental health (Berntsen et al 2011). The negative experiences turn into a point of reference for further perceptions, interpretation of new events and everyday inferences.…”