Reminiscence is the process of remembering, evoking, and sharing memories of the past, especially of loved ones. In the context of grief, it serves functions of continuing bonds with the deceased, integration of life history, and meaning construction. Far from "living in the past," adaptive reminiscence connects past and present.
Concept origin
Butler (1963) described life review as a natural aging process in JAMA. Webster and Haight (2002) systematized the functions of reminiscence. In the grief context, Neimeyer's (2001-2015) research connected reminiscence with meaning reconstruction.
Therapeutic approach
Reminiscence techniques in grief include: life albums, biographical interviews, evocation rituals, and conversations about the deceased's legacy. Group reminiscence therapy has evidence in grief in older adults and perinatal grief.
Related concepts
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