Introduction
Autobiographical memory is a memory structure that’s made up of episodes recalled
from someone’s life and based on episodic and semantic memory. The direct function of
autobiographical memory looks at how people can take their memories from their lives.
Generally episodes from people’s lives that may be about solving problems, making decisions,
and deciding on a plan that’s involved in action. It involves using the past to conduct present and
future behavior along with solving problems (Kuwabara & Pillemer, 2010).
The purpose of (Kuwabara & Pillemer, 2010) was to examine whether having students
recall a positive or negative autobiographical memory that involved their university would affect
their future plans and donation decisions. Their hypothesis stated that positive memories about
UNH could influence their decision making about donating to the school or charity. They had
three levels to this hypothesis. Having a positive memory about UNH will increase the likelihood
of their future intentions and current decision to donate to the university; having a negative
memory about UNH should have a negative influence on their current behavior to UNH. In a
classroom setting the questionnaires were given out in a specific order – positive memory,
negative memory, no memory. They were asked very simple questions about their background
then general questions in regards to their feelings about the university. The positive memory
condition group were asked to describe a specific experience when they felt very satisfied with
the university. The negative memory condition was asked to describe when they felt very
disappointed with the university. Participants in the control group were not asked to describe
