INCLUDING SOCIAL-FACTORS IN THE ANALYSIS OF REMINISCENCE IN ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS

Developmental psychologists have studied reminiscence in elderly indiv iduals using widely varied conceptions of adult development. Determini st psychologists conceived of reminiscent behavior in elderly individu als as constituting the last phase in normal development. Contextualis t psychologists have pointed to the historical and cultural relativity of adult development, and highlighted the variation in elderly person s with respect to reminiscent behavior. However, they do not fully ack nowledge the role the environment plays in establishing reminiscent be havior in elderly people. Therefore, sociological life course theory s hould be included in the analyses and interpretation of this behavior.