This book represents an emerging theme in the field of memory research: a shift in focus from examining what memory is, a structural approach, to what memory is for, a functional approach (Bruce, 1985; Oakley, 1983). As Nelson points out, one of the primary and developmentally early functions of event memory is to organize our knowledge about the world, and as Barsalou's data demonstrate, this remains an important function of event memory throughout development. But there is another function of event memory. Event memory not only organizes our knowledge about the world, but also helps organize our knowledge about ourselves. Our sense of self and event memories are interwoven systems. We learn about ourselves by interacting with the world. Who we are is largely defined by what we do–the kinds of activities and events that we engage in.

Moreover, it is the sense of self that is crucial for autobiographical memory. Autobiographical memory is not simply memories of previously experienced events; it is memory of the self engaging in these activities. It is the sense of self that makes the memories cohere as a life history that expresses the essence of who we are. Whereas event memory serves the function of organizing our knowledge of the world, a predictive function, autobiographical memory serves the function of organizing our knowledge about ourselves, a self-defining function. I am not arguing for two separate memory systems, only for multiple functions.