Reminiscence

Abstract

Reminiscence, the recall of personally experienced episodes from one's past, has important consequences for many psychosocial outcomes, including our sense of identity, relationship quality, and mental health. It is a key research focus in multiple disciplines including nursing, social work, psychology, and gerontology as only a few examples. Important individual difference variables such as culture, family dynamics, and age modify reminiscence expression and function. A ubiquitous and natural type of memorial recall, reminiscence is often used as a cost‐effective form of therapy demonstrating reliable decreases in disorders such as anxiety and depression. Increasingly sophisticated methodological, experimental, and statistical designs continue to move the field forward.