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Predictors of Reminiscence: A Lifespan Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Jeffrey Dean Webster
Jeffrey Dean Webster
Affiliation:
Langara College
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Abstract

Age (18–81 years), sex, and personality (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to Experience) variables were used as predictors of four dimensions of reminiscence behaviour. Contrary to theoretical assumptions, age did not predict reminiscence frequency. Neither were there age differences in terms of emotional tone or philosophical content of reminiscence. Memory remoteness, however, was predicted by age. Personality traits, in contrast, were significant predictors for all four reminiscence dimensions. Finally, sex predicted reminiscence frequency. The results are discussed from a lifespan perspective.

Résumé

Les variables ayant trait à l'âge (de 18 à 81 ans), au sexe et à la personnalité (extraversion, névrose, ouverture à l'expérience) ont été utilisées comme prédicteurs de quatre dimensions du comportement de réminiscence. Contrairement aux hypothèses théoriques, l'âge n'a pu déterminer la fréquence de réminiscence. Il n'existe pas non plus de différence d'âge en ce qui touche le degré d'émotivité ou le contenu philosophique de la réminiscence. Cependant, la perte de mémoire pouvait être prédite avec l'âge. Les traits de personnalité, par contre, représentaient des prédicteurs importants pour les quatre dimensions de la réminiscence. Finalement, le sexe pouvait influencer la fréquence de la réminiscence. Les résultats sont discutés en fonction de l'espérance de vie.

Keywords

AdolescentsAdulthoodAgingPersonalityDevelopment.AdolescentsÂge adultevieillissementpersonnalitédéveloppement.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , Printemps/Spring 1994 , pp. 66 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1994

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