Do we remember what we want to remember? Motivational memory bias

Cognitive processes, and among them memory processes, are influenced by various motives. People often remember information which concerns them in an overly positive way and in agreement with their various needs and desires. The aim of the article is to describe, analyze and classify research on motivational bias in memory. The motives which lead to memory bias are specified and the self-enhancement motive is described in more detail. Attention is paid to the analysis of the forms of motivational bias in memory and types of information that are susceptible to it. The factors which modify the intensity of bias are also characterized. peerReviewed publishedVersion