Butler (1963) has proposed that the life review process is precipitated by the knowledge of the completion of being or death and consequently, old age. This is a concept that makes sense intuitively, and one can see examples of the life review in literature (Sarton, 1973, for example) as well as in philosophical thought (Aristotle, for example). However, the empirical research concerning the relationship of old age and death to the life review process can at best be described as mixed.

Several studies have been conducted to determine the relationship of old age to the life review process. Most studies have examined if older adults do in fact reminisce more than younger adults as an indicator of the life review. In a study by Costa and Kastenbaum (1967), 276 centenarians completed test items relating to Earliest Memory, Most Exciting Event, Most Salient Historical Event, and Future Ambitions. Results of their study indicated that the subjects were more interested in remote as opposed to recent memories. Interestingly, those individuals who seemed to have the greatest command over past events, also exhibited the greatest amount of interest in future goals. Costa and Kastenbaum (1967) conclude that remembering the past serves as a means for creating the future.

Two studies compared middle aged subjects with older subjects, and found that older subjects engaged in a significantly larger amount of reminiscence (Lieberman & Falk, 1971; Revere & Tobin, 1980). In addition, three separate studies (Boylin, Gordon & Nehrke, 1976; Havighurst & Glasser, 1972; McMahon & Rhudick, 1964) using an interview technique demonstrated that two thirds of those subjects interviewed stated that they did reminisce about the past. Therefore, these studies provide additional evidence that older adults do in fact engage in reminiscence and to a greater degree than individuals in middle adulthood.

Two studies, however, question the results of the studies described above. Using a thought sampling technique, Cameron (1972) and Giambra (1977) both found no age differences in the amount of reminiscence. In other words, younger adults reminisced with equal frequency as older adults. In addition, Cameron (1972) found that 63 percent of the older adults were thinking about the present, 23 percent were thinking about the future, and only 14 percent were thinking about the past. This data refutes the concept of greater reminiscence in old age.

The studies discussed provide mixed support for increased reminiscence in old age. It should be noted that the differences between the two studies, however, may be due to differences in methodology, interview/questionnaire versus thought sampling technique. Further research needs to be done. Also, Butler (1963) maintains that the life review can operate almost totally outside of consciousness. Therefore, the methodologies employed in the above would not be sensitive enough to record the life review in progress.

The studies described above use age as a variable. In an interview study conducted by Noyes and Kletti (1977), age was not a factor. Rather, 205 subjects of all ages who had survived a serious life-threatening situation were studied. The researchers found that 65 of the subjects reported experiencing panoramic flashes of their lives during the period of immediate danger and imminent death. This is similar to the anecdotal phrase of "my life flashed before my eyes". In this study, some subjects did report that an awareness of death precipitated a life review even if it lasted only a few moments. However, it should also be noted that 140 subjects reported no such similar experience.

A study by Lieberman and Coplan (1976) provides evidence in contradiction to Butler1s (1963) life review theory. Eighty subjects were tested using a variety of tests and interviews. These measures examined six realms of functioning: emotional states, orientation to emotional life, body imagery, self-concept, time perception, and cognitive functioning. Subjects were followed for up to three years to see who died and who survived. Subjects were then classified as death-near (died within one year of testing) and death-far (alive three years after testing). The six realms were then compared for differences between the two groups. Of interest to the concept of life review is the score on introspection. Death-near subjects experienced significantly less introspection than death-far subjects. This appears to indicate less inward self-reflection in the group for whom death was imminent. However, it should be noted that this may be confounded with the decreased cognitive functioning also found in the death-near group.

Other studies have examined the relationship of subjective well-being in old age (Larson, 1978). According to Butler (1963), the life review process is influenced by the function of the personality as opposed to the environment. Therefore, subjective well-being, according to Butler, should be dependent on the success or failure of the life review as it relates to personality functioning. However, the research in the field of subjective well-being as reviewed by Larson (1978) indicates that subjective well-being is most influenced by environmental influences as opposed to personality influences. The two major influences on subjective well-being were found to be physical health and socioeconomic status. This contradicts the premise of the life review as outlined by Butler (1963).

The evidence described above does not demonstrate a strong relationship between the life review process and old age or the realization of death. This may be due to the methodology employed to study the life review or perhaps life review, as a theory, needs to be reconceptualized. Either way, additional research needs to be done and the concept of life review needs to be critically examined.