Early memories, in vocational psychology dictionary

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Dictionary of Vocational Psychology

Early Memories/Recollections

Self-reports of one's early (or earliest) memories from childhood. Alfred Adler proposed that the features of an individual's earliest memories provided an excellent representation of core personality style and tendencies. Such style and tendencies would provide clues not only as to adjustment to such important behavioral domains as love, friendship, and general social behaviors, but also of work and relations with others in the workplace. In addition to qualitative, individualized approaches to the interpretation of early memories for use in career intervention, Adlerians have also developed coding systems for early memories that result in ratings that differentiate individuals across occupational fields, and even specialty areas within a general occupational field.

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