I was looking into reminiscing and how it can be negative and positive and I came across a lot of study that has been conducted on the topic. For me, I think that reminiscing should be a positive thing, but for some people they feel that the good times have left them and they are never to return. I think it affects people of all ages, but for some elderly people, the way that they cope with change can determine their quality of aging.
Apparently, there are six different categories of reminiscing which I will not go into too much detail about, but I will focus on one of them. They are integrative, instrumental, transmissive, narrative, escapist, and obsessive. It is the Transmissive reminiscence that I thought is quite interesting, and I think it should be used a lot. It has been used as a therapy technique for people of many different ages.
Transmissive reminiscence is all about using what you have learned in your life to help others by passing on your stories. I imagine a scene where I might be sitting by a fire in the evening and listening to stories about how my parents or elders managed to cope with the limited technology they had or how they coped with hard times. The younger generation will never be able to live in the time that you lived, so it is worthwhile letting them experience your experiences through your words.
According to research conducted, this is a positive way to accept change. We need to help the younger generation with our stories, knowledge and values. We can do it in a way that is positive and without asking them to take on your ideology or adopt your point of view, but just tell them how it is so that they can learn in a natural way.
I think that a lot of elderly people will feel a sense of worth rather than feeling like a burden. But I also think that people from many age groups could also pass on what they have learned. A middle aged man could pass on their knowledge of the working world to a new graduate; an older brother could reassure a younger one who is just entering high school by reminiscing about his times in high school as well.
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What Types of Reminiscence are Associated with Successful Aging?
