Walker, W. R., &Skowronski, J. J. (2009). The fading affect bias: But what the hell is it for?.

This article reviews research examining the fading affect bias (FAB): The finding that the intensity of affect associated with negative autobiographical memories fades faster than affect associated with positive autobiographical memories. The FAB is a robust effect in autobiographical memory that has been replicated using a variety of methods and populations. The FAB is linked to both cognitive and social processes that support a positive view of the self. Accordingly, we speculate that one function of the FAB may be to induce individuals to be positive and action‐oriented so that they may better face and master life challenges.

 

 

Walker, W. R., &Skowronski, J. J. (2009). The fading affect bias: But what the hell is it for?. Applied Cognitive Psychology: The Official Journal of the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 23(8), 1122-1136.

https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1614