Early Memories and Maladjustment

Abstract

Earliest memories were elicited from 60 undergraduates, who also completed the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Warder Physical Symptoms Inventory, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Early memories were scored for the three factors identified by Caruso and Spirrison (Emotional Poise, Activity, and Dependability). These scores were not significantly associated with indices of maladjustment or the social desirability measure. Age at reported earliest memory was significantly related to maladjustment, with persons reporting first memories prior to 4 years of age having significantly higher scores on maladjustment, as measured by the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank, than individuals with first memories occurring later. Individuals whose first memories occurred after the age of 5 years reported significantly more somatic concerns than persons with early memories of average onset, i.e., 4 to 5 years of age.