Early Memories and Maladjustment: Comment on Spirrison, et al. and Recalled Age of Earliest Memory

Spirrison, Schneider, Hartwell, Carmack, and D'Reaux (1997) argued that onset prior to age 4 of reported first memory is linked to maladjustment based on a study of 60 undergraduates; however, the literature suggests that sex, age, socioeconomic status, and Verbal IQ are likely to affect age of first recall. Responses of three previously unanalyzed samples were then reviewed for age of first recall. The first two samples yielded a 3-year earlier age of first recall for the female university student sample (3.2 vs 3.5 yr. for men); however, Spirrison, et at.'s prediction of maladjustment is probably better explained by various personal and demographic variables. A third sample—incarcerated male prisoners—was handpicked for specific demographic measures to test the notion that late age of first recall is linked with somatic complaints. Their average age of first recall was 6.2 yr. or “late onset.” Spirrison, et al.'s results would predict “somatic concerns”—extremely unlikely for this group. First recall at a later age is likely linked to a variety of psychological and demographic variables, including but not limited to low Verbal IQ, low education, low socioeconomic status, male, and a criminal background. Similarly, early age of first recall is probably linked to a high Verbal IQ, high education, middle-class socioeconomic status or higher, female, and an interest in reflection, among other variables. More research is needed on what affects age of first recall to avoid questionable attributions of pathology.