Social representations, ageing and memory: a holistic approach to cognitive assessment

摘要: This paper examines how contextual (conversational) aspects and socially shared meanings might affect the participants' performance on a standardised memory test using theoretical framework of social representations. A total 97 members centres for older adults located in Rome, Italy participated screening Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. Prior to testing, group volunteers had organised focused events from distant past, stimulating intergenerational reminiscence. The participants were randomly assigned one two conditions. In first case, prior administering test, psychotherapist talked each participant about performance, focusing ageing stressing neutral its representations, such as change time. second was used concentrate positive representations ageing, namely wisdom experience. line with hypothesis, (wisdom experience) versus their (change time) has resulted improved Practitioners (psychotherapists – experts psycho-diagnostics) who administered tests have been involved co-construction meaning discussing real-life situation: common experience activity that memories urban environment.