The Experience of Micro and Macro Events: A Life-Span Analysis
Publication Date
1990
Description
This study investigated how individuals retrospectively construe their lives in terms of major life events. Ninety-nine participants sorted a set of personal and historical events in terms of perceived importance for their lives. Analyses of variance with repeated measures and rank comparisons were computed. Overall findings revealed no cohort differences with regard to the perception of life events. However, within-cohort differences were found, indicating that more life events were recalled from the young adult years. Those experiences were also perceived as having been more important in the participants' lives than events from other age segments. With regard to historical events, war-related experiences were among the highest ranked. Analyses of variance revealed intracohort differences but not intercohort differences, indicating higher scores for the time between 1930 and 1948 relative to other historical periods.
Journal
Research On Aging
Volume
12
First Page
294
Last Page
310
Department
Psychology
Link to Published Version
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2236895
Recommended Citation
Martin, Peter and Smyer, Michael A.. "The Experience of Micro and Macro Events: A Life-Span Analysis." Research on Aging (1990) : 294-310.