Abstract:
The 2 aims of the current study were to investigate 1) children’s memory for positive
and negative emotional information and 2) the influence of temperament on the type
of emotional information recalled. Seventy-five children aged 61-77 months
participated in a staged event, “Visiting the Pretend Zoo”. Approximately 6-9 days later
children participated in a memory interview. Parents/caregivers completed a
temperament questionnaire. Children recalled more negative relative to positive
emotional information. Children higher in Effortful Control (EC) recalled more
negative emotional information relative to children lower in EC. This indicates that
EC may play an important role in children’s memory. No other effects of
temperament were identified. Limitations of the current study are discussed followed
by directions for future study.
