Kinship effect on subjective temporal distance of autobiographical memory

Autobiographical memory bias in favor of kin was examined through individuals’ subjective temporal estimations of past events. In two studies, participants recalled past pleasant and unpleasant experiences (Study 1) and competitive events in which there was a clear winner and loser (Study 2) and rated their temporal judgments of these experiences. Generically unpleasant events and events potentially resulting in interpersonal conflicts were recalled as occurring in the more distant past when involving kin than involving non-kin. This kin-serving episodic temporal judgment bias may be part of the human cognitive architecture partly responsible for altruistic behaviors toward kin.