A phenomenological study of the earliest memory

The purpose of this study was to gain a greater understanding of individual's experiences of their earliest memory. A phenomenological method of research was used in gathering and analyzing data. Twenty participants were interviewed. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological reduction procedure.

Earliest memory content was diverse. Fifteen themes appeared in the earliest memories; an additional nine themes were found when next-earliest memories were included in the analysis. While the content of an earliest memory was unique to the individual, analysis of interview transcripts revealed common themes in participants' experiences of remembering and talking about their memories. These themes were developed into seven dimensions to describe the essential features of the experience: (1) Priority, (2) History, (3) Source, (4) Temporal Stance, (5) Reality, (6) Significance, and (7) Meaning. A scoring manual was constructed and interview transcripts were scored on the basis of the seven dimensions.

Results indicated that participants engaged in a process of orienting to the memory by establishing one memory as earliest, by recognizing whether they had thought about the memory in the past, and by affirming the memory as their own. In simultaneously recalling and telling the memory, participants either "relived" the memory or "reported" the memory in an objective manner. As they reflected on their earliest memory, participants found varying degrees of signficance and meaning.

Discussed in terms of relevance to theory and research was the importance of including, in addition to earliest memory content, the individuals' thoughts and feelings surrounding their earliest memories. Clinical implications were that the earliest memory could be a vehicle for self-expression and self-discovery, as well as an indicator to the therapist of the person's emotional, cognitive, and integrative capacities.

The study of the earliest memory from an experiential, phenomenological standpoint opens new areas for future research. The seven dimensions were noted as areas of focus that could further enhance our understanding of the earliest memory.