Momentary life review: a metaphor, an experience or a false memory? Further research perspectives

Abstract

The aim of the paper was to analyze the current state of investigations of a new psychological phenomenon – Momentary Life Review (MLR) – and to develop the program for its further research. MLR phenomenon means that remembering highly stressful situations people argue that 'the whole life has glimpsed before eyes in a moment'. General methodology of MLR studies based on retrospective self-reports is criticized for failure to distinguish processes of experiencing MLR and memory processes of the delayed recollection of MLR. The controversy of literature concerning conditions of MLR manifestation, MLR content and its psychological consequences is noted. The author proposes that MLR should be considered as a memory illusion that appears as the result of interaction of three factors: 1) a specific mode of autobiographical memory functioning under highly stressful conditions; 2) cultural models of MLR and 3) linguistic means of encoding a “vivid” memory image into a retrospective verbal description. New methodology based on Vygotsky’s cultural-historical approach is suggested for development of a MLR imitation method in laboratory conditions.