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Reminiscence: A critical review of the empirical literature
Author(s) -
Thornton Susan,
Brotchie Janet
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
british journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0144-6657
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1987.tb00736.x
Subject(s) - reminiscence , psychology , life review , population , relevance (law) , psychotherapist , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , medicine , alternative medicine , sociology , demography , pathology , political science , law
The empirical evidence concerning the prevalence and function of reminiscence among the elderly is reviewed and the relevance of such activity for clinical populations is evaluated. Variations in the ways in which reminiscence is defined and methods of eliciting reminiscence activity are described. Data on frequency of reminiscence and its relationship to age are discussed. Studies investigating the functions of reminiscence are divided into three groups according to experimental design and their findings critically reviewed. It is concluded that there is little evidence of an age‐specific process of reminiscence, that the functions of such a process are unclear and that the role of reminiscence as a therapeutic activity is in doubt. Literary and scientific descriptions have implied that dwelling on past events and remote memories is a specific feature of old age. Furthermore it has been suggested that the activity of reminiscing about past experience may have adaptational significance for the later stages of life (Butler, 1963). More recently the concept of reminiscence has been applied to a clinical population and reminiscence therapy groups are advocated for elderly people in hospital or community settings, including those who are confused (Kiernat, 1979; Norris & Abu El Eileh, 1982). The purpose of this paper is to review the empirical evidence concerning the prevalence and function of reminiscence among elderly people and to address the question of the relevance of such activity for clinical populations.