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Although John Bowlby conceptualized attachment theory as applicable across the life span, researchers have been relatively slow to examine attachment phenomena specifically among older adults. The present article reviews the extant research applying attachment theory to older populations; preliminary findings suggest that attachment issues hold particular relevance for older adults, given the increased potential for separation, loss and vulnerability associated with aging. Although many of the studies reviewed are somewhat limited methodologically, the overall pattern of results suggests that attachment patterns are associated with a variety of outcomes in later life (such as adaptation to chronic illness and caregiver burden among family members, reactions to the death of a loved one, and general well-being) in a theoretically consistent manner. The implications of and questions raised by current findings are reviewed, and directions for future research are discussed.

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We designed a laboratory study (A' = 63) to test a series of hypotheses concerning diary-keeping derived from a social-cognitive view of the performance appraisal process. Raters who were given unorganized performance information were expected to store it in memory in patterns consistent with those used to organize diaries. Results supported this hypothesis. Moreover, raters preferred to organize diaries according to ratees, and diaries organized in this way resulted in more accurate recall and performance ratings. This effect held even though raters consulted diaries when making ratings. These results provide support for a cognitive role for diaries, such that they allow raters to impose organization on unorganized information. We discuss implications for research and practice.The application of cognitive decision-making models to the study of performance appraisals (DeNisi, Cafferty, & Meglino, 1984;Feldman, 1981;Ilgen & Feldman, 1984; Landy & Farr, 1980) has not only introduced a new orientation to the field but has also revived interest in some longer standing issues. One area of revived interest is the role of memory in appraisal decisions and in the consideration of factors affecting the accurate recall of performance information. One factor may be the time between information acquisition and recall, with longer delays resulting in less accuracy and greater susceptibility to halo effects (cf. Cooper, 1981;Murphy & Balzer, 1986;Nathan & Lord, 1983). In addition, researchers in social cognition have found that information is more easily recalled when it is initially stored or encoded in a clear pattern

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