Michael Vidal
UniVERSiTy oF new HAMPSHire
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Dr. David Pillemer, UNH Department of Psychology
Directive Functions of Autobiographical Memories: Selecting a Major
In the United States the enrollment in degree-granting institutions has increased 26% since 1997 - from 14.5 million to 18.2 million (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2008). More than ever aspiring students are attending universities around the country, all hoping to enter professional fields that will open doors to endless possibilities. The current competitive nature for employment has caused job seekers to search the best options to increase their visibility in our society. With workers who hold a bachelor’s degree earning about $26,000 more, on average, than workers with a high school diploma (Census Bureau, 2009); it is no surprise to see the significant increase of enrollment into institutions.
Not much is known about the function of memory when deciding on what major a student wants to pursue. Little attention has been given to the power of memory, more specifically its directive function, which guides and directs behavior outside of consciousness. This is partly a result in the belief that “general or semantic memory, is seen as the primary source of direction and guidance” instead of ‘personal event memories’ that occur at a specific time and place (Pillemer, 2003). Investigation in this area can prove to be promising in the field of psychology and beneficial to educators at institutions. The specific research questions of this project are: How do students make the decision of identifying a major? And what role does autobiographical memory play in this decision?
