10 Intriguing and Less Known Aspects of Early Recollections

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As a projective technique, early recollections ask that a person disclose a first memory from a long time ago. Among the various ways to think about early recollections is how they are intriguing and, at the same time, less known by people in general. Consider the following 10 qualities of the remembrances in terms of how an individual's brief story composed in early childhood has implications for enduring ways of being:

1. Outlook on Life. Early recollections clarify a person's fundamental attitudes towards oneself, other people, and events in life. Glimpses of self-understanding emerge through an assessment of first memories before the age of 8.
2. Lessons Learned. Each early recollection suggests a core theme relating to what life is like or about for a person. The central message may involve construing life from a perspective of caution, inspiration, withdrawal, hope, or various other ways that make sense to an individual.
3. The Uniqueness of Each Memory. Every remembrance of a person is unique and one-of-a-kind. At the same time, an individual's early recollections do not contradict one another, even though they may initially appear to be different. Instead, multiple first memories tend to clarify one's personality and outlook on life in a more comprehensive way.
4. Common Events. An early memory typically involves a common, everyday happening. Even though a young child may have had experiences looking out from the top of a mountain or other majestic scenes, it is the more simple and ordinary things recalled that speak to what life is like or about.
5. A Handful of Memories. Most individuals are able to spontaneously relate only a small number of recollections from early childhood--in the single digits. Importantly, this does not include prompted or cued memories, such as at school or with family members, which can range into high numbers.
6. Minimal Change in Memories. Early recollections remain relatively the same or enduring over the lifespan of a person, with only slight variations. At the same time, an individual is able to gain insights from a remembrance in order to strive towards constructive personal growth.
7. Black and White Memories. By a large majority, early recollections are achromatic or black and white with about 1 of 6 persons referencing color in their remembrances. These individuals may be considered "color-minded" and tend to have an artistic orientation to life.
8. Sound in a Memory. About 1 out of 20 early recollections involve the sense of hearing with reference to sound. Most memories are like watching a silent movie for about one minute. Persons with sound in their remembrances may be considered "sound-minded" and acoustics are highly important in life, such as music, conversations, and random tones.
9. Smell and Taste in a Memory. Citing an occurrence of the senses of smell and taste in an individual's early recollections is rare. Even though early childhood involves countless experiences with food and smells, comments to each sense are in the 2 to 3 percent range.
10. Personality Dimensions. Several personality variables are observable in early recollections, such as optimism/pessimism, social interest, and perseverance. With awareness and determination to change, the dimensions are subject to development.

Specific information about each of the 10 observations is available in my previous blogs on the dawn of memories. As a projective technique, observations derived from the remembrances may also be useful in counseling and psychotherapy contexts (Clark, 2002).