Gender Differences in Emotional Reminiscing in a Scandinavian Sample

Riikka Pauliina Svane*, Widaad Zaman, Natalie Merrill, Peter Krøjgaard, Robyn Fivush

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
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Abstract

Emotional reminiscing is a context where children learn culture-specific ways of understanding past emotional experiences through parentally scaffolded conversations, and learn how to connect these disparate experiences into their developing autobiographical memory. The goal of the present investigation was to explore possible gender differences in emotional reminiscing in an egalitarian cultural context (Denmark). Mothers and fathers from families (N = 88) reminisced about a happy and a sad past event with their 4.5-year-old children. Parents' and children's contributions were coded for emotion words, emotion attributions, and explanations. The emotional content did not differ as a function of parent or child gender. However, Danish children talked more about emotions overall with their mothers compared to their fathers. The results are discussed in light of the socio-cultural practices.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Psychology
Volume63
Issue3
Pages (from-to)173-181
Number of pages9
ISSN0036-5564
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • Parent–child reminiscing
  • autobiographical memory
  • emotion narratives
  • emotion socialization
  • gender differences
  • MOTHERS
  • PARENT-CHILD CONVERSATIONS
  • STATES
  • Parent-child reminiscing
  • STYLE
  • AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY
  • SELF
  • TALK
  • ATTACHMENT SECURITY
  • EUROPEAN-AMERICAN
  • CHINESE IMMIGRANT

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