The Reminiscence Bump for Public Events: A Review of Its Prevalence and Taxonomy of Alternative Age Distributions

Abstract

The present paper examines the extant literature on the reminiscence bump for public events (the finding that public events are generally remembered best by those in adolescence or early adulthood at the time of their occurrence), with the aim of identifying (i) whether this bump in fact represents a legitimate effect, and (ii) the alternative age distributions that are otherwise seen in recall for public events. I conclude that, though the bump is frequently found, the legitimacy of the effect is contingent upon the strictness of the standard one employs. I also find significant exceptions to the bump, with a number of alternative age distributions seen in the literature. Therefore, I present a taxonomy of these alternative age distributions. Lastly, I discuss the implications of the existing literature regarding the mechanisms underlying the bump and offer suggestions for future research.

The reminiscence bump in autobiographical memory and for public events: A comparison across different cueing methods

“…That is, in what we will refer to as the important events method, participants are asked to name what they consider to be the most important x number of public events or changes over a given period (generally, over the last 50-80 years; e.g., Corning, Gaidys, & Schuman, 2013;Jennings & Zhang, 2005;Schuman & Corning, 2012Schuman & Scott, 1989;Schuman, Vinitzky-Serousi, & Vinokur, 2003;Scott & Zac, 1993). However, though the bump for public events appears to be a legitimate effect, it is, nonetheless, less robust than the bump in autobiographical memory, in that researchers often find exceptions to it as well (Koppel, 2013).…”

“…In addition to the reminiscence bump in autobiographical memory, there is a smaller literature demonstrating a similar effect in memory for public events (for a review, see Koppel, 2013).…”

The breadth and mnemonic consequences of the youth bias

“…However, in a review of the literature, Koppel (2013) noted that there is some indication the bump is stronger when tested through open-ended recall than through knowledge tests. Relatedly, in asking participants to judge whether the second Iraq war was more like the Vietnam War or World War II, Schuman and Corning (2006) found that the Vietnam War was chosen disproportionately by those who were alive and past the age of childhood amnesia during the Vietnam War, rather than specifically by those who were in the bump period.…”

“…This is reflected, for instance, in the reminiscence bump, wherein middle-aged and older adults demonstrate preferential memory for events of this period. The bump is found in both autobiographical memory (Rubin, Wetzler, & Nebes, 1986; for a review, including a demonstration of the shifting location of the bump according to the method used to cue memories, see Koppel & Berntsen, 2015) and memory for public events (e.g., Schuman & Scott, 1989; for a review, including a delineation of exceptions to the effect, see Koppel, 2013). …”

The tracks of my years: Personal significance contributes to the reminiscence bump

“…The reminiscence bump is formed between the ages of 15 and 30 years, and has been demonstrated across a range of domains, including episodic autobiographical memory (Rubin, Wetzler, & Nebes, 1986), semantic autobiographical memory (Rybash & Monaghan, 1999), public events (Janssen, Murre, & Meeter, 2008;Koppel, 2013), and flashbulb memories (Denver, Lane, & Cherry, 2010), as well as in the distributions of favorite films, books, and songs (e.g., Holbrook & Schindler, 1989;1996;Janssen, Chessa, & Murre, 2007;Schulkind et al, 1999;Sehulster, 1996;Smith, 1994). Self-based theories of the reminiscence bump propose that this period of the lifespan is remembered best because these years are central to the formation of an enduring adult identity, and preferential accessibility of this time-period promotes a stable sense of self later in life (e.g., Conway, 2005;Fitzgerald, 1988;Rathbone, Moulin, & Conway, 2008).…”