We investigated recall of early experience and the repressive coping s
tyle by testing hypotheses concerning restricted access to negative ch
ildhood memories and eliciting accounts of quality of parenting receiv
ed. Repressors free recalled fewer negative childhood memories than no
nrepressors, and the age of first negative memory for repressors was o
lder both in free recall and cued recall. Repressors also took longer
to retrieve negative childhood memories but not positive memories. Rep
ressors' accounts of their childhoods were more likely to be character
ized by paternal antipathy and indifference, and they were less likely
to report an emotionally or physically close relationship with their
fathers.