PsychologyJuly 4, 2026
reminiscence
/ˌrɛm.ɪˈnɪs.əns/
Definition
The act of recalling or reflecting on past events, often associated with a persistent, sometimes lingering, mental focus on traumatic or significant history.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin word 'reminisci,' meaning 'to remember,' which is built from 're-' (again) and 'memini' (to remember). It entered Middle French before appearing in English during the 15th century to describe the power or act of recalling past experiences.
In the news
In the article, the term is used to describe how adolescent survivors of genocide must navigate their current lives while simultaneously coping with the ongoing, often intrusive, memory of past violence.
Psychology prof’s mental health lab has a global humanitarian health mission – Letters & Science
Read the full article ↗UW-Milwaukee