Daydreaming About the Past: The Time Setting of Spontaneous Thought Intrusions

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Abstract
Through the use of a questionnaire, the tendency of more than 1100 males and females aged 17-92 todaydream about the past, present, and future was determined. Contrary to common belief, no linearrelation between age and daydreaming about the past was observed; and all temporal orientationswere, with few exceptions, of near equal strength at all ages. Further analyses revealed little or no tendencyfor the elderly to daydream more about the more distant past than the younger members of thesample. People dealing with the aged are cautioned to avoid attributing any special reminiscing tendencyto the aged and to look to life events such as marriage, empty nest, impending death, etc., insteadof age per se to ascertain life periods which may result in one dominating temporal orientation.

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