Chronology versus centrality: uncovering age-related differences in order effects during the retrieval of autobiographical memories

Despite the crucial role that the recall of autobiographical memories (AMs) plays for identity, the process of how we recall AMs, and whether retrieval processes undergo changes across the lifespan, has received little attention. The present study thus examined the order of AMs during recall, with a specific focus on time and centrality as guiding dimensions. A total of 364 participants (aged 18-89 years) recalled up to ten positive and negative AMs. They provided their age at the time of the event and rated AMs according to their centrality to identity and life story. Based on linear growth models, we found emotional AMs to be recalled chronologically. Additionally, people ordered their emotional AMs along their relative importance. Notably, both order effects vary across age: Whereas the chronological order effect became more pronounced with increasing age, the reversed pattern was found regarding the centrality order effect for negative AMs. Positive AMs were also ordered according to their centrality, but the strength of this effect was independent of participants' age. Findings are discussed in terms of potential motivational factors underlying the retrieval mechanisms associated with the recall of positive and negative AMs and age-related differences therein.