Older people produce initial details rapidly but then slow down. The order of their details is more consistent. Younger people initially produce memories slower and the order is less consistent. The results of the present study suggest that personal memories are variable. When people re-call the same memory, the same details may not always be recalled.
Older people recall memories in a more stable way than younger people do.
This may also result from a less evolving self-concept of older people. The retrieval mechanism for older people may differ from the mechanism used by younger people. Understanding the variability of personal memories is important because of applied under- standing in the areas of witness testimony, medical history taking, and circumstances where people are asked to supply information at interview.