How Culture Affects Memory Encoding: Extending the “Threat to Conceptual Self” Model (TCSM) for Traumatic Experiences Cover Page by Carlos Scott López, ESQ.* B.A. (Hons), M.B.A., M.A., J.D. Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degrees of Master of Psychology (Clinical) and Doctor of Philosophy University of New South Wales Faculty of Science School of Psychology Sydney, Australia 14 March 2017 * BA (Hons) (Harvard), MBA & MA (Stanford), Doctor of Jurisprudence (Yale); Licensed Psychologist (State of New South Wales, Australia); Member of the Bar & Notary Public of the State of New York and Licensed Patent Attorney before the US Patent & Trademark Office; Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Sydney Faculty of Law (2005-6); Director of the Gamelan Council – Asia- Pacific Microfinance, Public Health & Development Centre (2006-Present); Human Rights Lawyer and advocate with the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) (2003) and Refugee Immigration Legal Centre (RILC) (2002); Director of the Jerome Frank Legal Services Organization (2002-5); Senior Engagement Manager with McKinsey and Company’s Asia-Pacific health & corporate finance consultancy practices (1996-2001); Officer with the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia’s civilian electoral, legal, and developmental health units in cooperation with the UNDP, UNHCR, WHO, and UNICEF (1992-5). THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: López First name: Carlos Other name/s: Scott Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: M.Psych (Clinical) / Ph.D School: Psychology Faculty: Science Title: How culture affects memory encoding: extending the “Threat to Conceptual Self” Model (TCSM) for traumatic experiences Culture has been identified as an important factor in mediating how individuals experience and process trauma. This thesis investigated the import of various cultural dimensions on traumatic symptomatology by scrutinizing key elements of the ‘Threat to Conceptual Self’ Model (TCSM). The model explicates the role of culture in arousing heightened traumatic responses associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Four studies are discussed involving participants from conflict-affected Colombia who were still living in Colombia or now living in Ecuador as refugees and asylum seekers. Participants contributed data via surveys and solicited cognitive representations in the form of autobiographical memories of everyday memories, traumatic events, self-defining memories, and future imaginings. Study One investigated the extent to which participants from Colombia around the Ecuadorian border share a specific culture, as well as the extent to which this cultural disposition is stable over time. Evidence suggests that the Colombians appear to share a cultural milieu, though cultural constructs vary longitudinally on an individual level. Study Two investigated the extent to which the cultural milieu of the Colombians in Ecuador comports with their traumatic experiences. Findings indicated that traumatic experiences prime cultural dispositions addressing independence, individualism, security, stability, and autonomy. Study Three examined the import of cultural elements vis-à-vis extreme traumatic symptomatology, finding that significant trauma comports with significant incongruity with many cultural constructs. Finally, Study Four confirmed that the cognitive representations examined in this thesis are consistent with previous reports of the impact of trauma on autobiographical memories and future imaginings. The evidence is unclear, however, regarding the degree to which culture mediates the effects of trauma on thoughts addressing one’s conceptual sense of oneself, which the TCSM suggests is a significant perpetuating and maintaining factor of traumatic symptomatology. The thesis concludes in discussing the theoretical implications of the TCSM; reviewing the evidence of cultural elements and traumatic symptomatology among various cognitive representations; and proposing key areas of further research into the import of culture into the ways in which trauma is experienced and maintained. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation: I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). 31/05/2016 …………………………………………………… …………………………………………… ……………. Signature Witness Signature Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS How Culture Affects Memory Encoding: Extending the “Threat to Conceptual Self” Model (TCSM) for Traumatic Experiences Originality and Copyright & Authenticity Statements ORIGINALITY STATEMENT I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project’s design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights,. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorize University Microfilims to use the abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted, I have applied / will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation. Signed: 14 March 2017 ________________________________________ Carlos Scott López, Esq. Date AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format. Signed: 14 March 2017 ________________________________________ Carlos Scott López, Esq. Date Page ii How Culture Affects Memory Encoding: Extending the “Threat to Conceptual Self” Model (TCSM) for Traumatic Experiences Acknowledgements Since I commenced my research almost nine years ago in early 2009, a host of individuals and institutions have provided me valuable assistance, guidance, and support. Without their help, I could not have pursued the necessary research and fieldwork which enabled me to complete this thesis successfully. They all deserve mention and credit for this thesis as it is as much their accomplishment as it is my own. First and foremost, I wanted to express my deepest appreciation for the sources of funding which enabled me to pursue my research. These include the Gamelan Council, from which I received an award for research work in Ecuador with the encouragement and support of many of my colleagues at my previous alma matris. These included the support and encouragement of individuals such as Professors Peter Schuck and Carroll Lucht at the Yale Law School (from where I earned my Doctor of Law (Juris Doctorate)); Dr. Nick Zirpolo, an affiliate clinical psychologist of Stanford University (from where I earned my MBA and MA); and Professor Robin Gottlieb of Harvard University (where I received my BA (Hons)). I received additional funding from the Australian Government in the form of an Australian Postgraduate Award; from the Dept. of Psychology / Faculty of Science at the University of New South Wales in the form an additional semester’s support and funding to cover research-related expenses; and the Graduate Research School of the University of New South Wales in the form of funding to present my research at the APA Conference in Toronto, Canada, in mid-2015. In summary, these funds enabled me to travel and spend significant time in Ecuador