Wang (2001)

Culture effects on adults' earliest childhood recollection and self-description: Implications for the relation between memory and the self.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(2), 220-233

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Abstract

American and Chinese college students (N= 256) reported their earliest childhood memory on a memory questionnaire and provided self-descriptions on a shortened 20 Statements Test (MH Kuhn & TS McPartland, 1954). The average age at earliest memory of Americans was almost 6 months earlier than that of Chinese. Americans reported lengthy, specific, self-focused, and emotionally elaborate memories; they also placed emphasis on individual attributes in describing themselves. Chinese provided brief accounts of childhood memories centering on collective activities, general routines, and emotionally neutral events; they also included a great number of social roles in their self-descriptions. Across the entire sample, individuals who described themselves in more self-focused and positive terms provided more specific and self-focused memories. Findings are discussed in light of the interactive relation between autobiographical memory and cultural self-construal.(PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)

Reference

Wang, Q. (2001). Culture effects on adults' earliest childhood recollection and self-description: implications for the relation between memory and the self. Journal of personality and social psychology, 81(2), 220.

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