DAVID BURRELL PILLEMER
Office Address:
Home Address:
Department of Psychology
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
2 Dearborn Brook Circle
Exeter, NH 03833
phone: (603) 862-2127
e-mail: david.pillemer@unh.edu
phone: (603) 580-2455
EDUCATION
1972
University of Chicago
B.A., Psychology
1979
Laboratory of Human Development,
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Ed.D., Human Development
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2003-
Dr. Samuel E. Paul Professor of Developmental Psychology,
University of New Hampshire
2005-
Senior Fellow, Carsey Institute for Families and
Communities, University of New Hampshire
1999-2001 William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Psychology,
Wellesley College
1991-2003 Professor of Psychology, Wellesley College
1994-2003 Faculty Director, Pforzheimer Learning and Teaching
Center, Wellesley College
1992-2002 Psychological Director, Wellesley College Child Study Center
1980-1989
1985-1991
Associate Professor of Psychology, Wellesley College
1989-1990
Visiting Scholar, Department of Human Development and
Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education
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1987-1989
Chairperson, Department of Psychology, Wellesley College
1982-1983
Visiting Scholar, Department of Psychology, Harvard University
1979-1984
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wellesley College
1978-1979
Instructor in Psychology, Wellesley College
1977-1978
Instructor in Education, Harvard University
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Psychological Society
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
GRANTS
2009
Spencer Foundation: “Episodic Learning and Memory in Classroom
Contexts”
2001-2002 Foundation for Child Development: "Developmental Psychology
and the Social Changes of Our Time"
2001-2002 William T. Grant Foundation: "Developmental Psychology and the
Social Changes of Our Time"
1993-1995 National Science Foundation: "Memories of a LifeThreatening Event: An Integration of Cognitive and Personality
Perspectives" (Co-PI)
1989-1990 Spencer Foundation: "Memories of Educational Episodes"
1986-1988 Brachman Hoffman Faculty Fellowship, Wellesley College:
"Memory in Everyday Contexts"
1984-1985 Spencer Foundation: "Research on Personal Memories" (Co-PI)
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COURSES TAUGHT
Developmental Psychology
Research Methods in Psychology
Research Methods in Developmental Psychology
Memory in Natural Contexts
Autobiographical Memory Across the Lifespan
Child Development and Social Policy
Developmental Psychology and Social Change
Statistics
Introductory Psychology
BOOKS
Pillemer, D. B., & White, S. H. (Eds.) (2005). Developmental psychology
and social change: Research, history, and policy. New York:
Cambridge University Press.
Pillemer, D. B. (1998). Momentous events, vivid memories. Cambridge, MA:
Harvard University Press.
Light, R.J., & Pillemer, D.B. (1984). Summing up: The science of reviewing research.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Feldman, C., Lee, B., McLean, J.D., Pillemer, D.B., & Murray, J. (1974).
The development of adaptive intelligence. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
ARTICLES & CHAPTERS
Pillemer, D. B. & Dickson, R. A. (in press). Adults’ memories of their own childhoods.
In G. B. Melton, A. Ben-Arieh, J. Cashmore, & G. Goodman (Eds.),
Children in childhood: A Handbook of child research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Pillemer, D. B., & Kuwabara, K. J. (in press). Directive functions of autobiographical
memory: Theory and method. In D. Berntsen & D. C. Rubin (Eds.),
Understanding autobiographical memory: Theories and approaches.
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NY: Cambridge University Press.
Dickson, R. A., Pillemer, D. B., & Bruehl, E. C. (2011). The reminiscence bump for
salient personal memories: Is a cultural life script required? Memory & Cognition,
39, 977-991.
Thomsen, D. K., Pillemer, D. B., & Ivcevic, Z. (2011). Life story chapters, specific
memories and the reminiscence bump. Memory, 19, 267-279.
Bemis, R. H., Leichtman, M. D., & Pillemer, D. B. (2011). “I remember when I learned
that!” Developmental and gender differences in children’s memories of learning
episodes. Infant and Child Development, 20, 387-399.
Pillemer, D. B. (2011). Review of D. Berntsen, Involuntary autobiographical memories:
An introduction to the unbidden past, Cambridge University Press, 2009. Memory
Studies, 4, 343-345.
Kuwabara, K. J., & Pillemer, D. B. (2010). Memories of past episodes shape current
intentions and decisions. Memory, 18, 365-374.
Ivcevic, Z., Pillemer, D. B., & Brackett, M. A. (2010). Self-esteem memories and
school success in early adolescence. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24, 1265-1278.
Pillemer, D. B. (2009). “Hearing the news” versus “being there”: Comparing
flashbulb memories and recall of first-hand experiences. In O.
Luminet & A. Curci (Eds.), Flashbulb memories: New issues and new
perspectives (pp. 125-140). London: Psychology Press.
Pillemer, D.B. (2009). Twenty years after Baddeley (1988): Is the study of
autobiographical memory fully functional? Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23,
1193-1208.
Skowronek, J. S., Leichtman, M. D., & Pillemer, D. B. (2008). Long-term episodic
memory in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Learning
Disabilities Research & Practice, 23, 25-35.
Ivcevic, Z., Pillemer, D. B., Wang, Q., Yubo, H., Huizhen, T., Mohoric, T., & Taksic, V.
(2008). When we feel good and bad about ourselves: Self-esteem memories
across cultures. Memory, 16, 703-711.
Pillemer, D. B., Ivcevic, Z., Gooze, R. A., & Collins, K. A. (2007). Self-esteem memories:
Feeling good about achievement success, feeling bad about relationship distress.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 1292-1305.
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Collins, K. A., Pillemer, D. B., Ivcevic, Z., & Gooze, R. A. (2007). Cultural scripts
guide recall of intensely positive life events. Memory & Cognition, 35, 651-659.
Fiske, K. E., & Pillemer, D. B. (2006). Adult recollections of earliest childhood dreams:
A cross-cultural study. Memory, 14, 57-67.
White, S. H., & Pillemer, D. B. (2005). What kind of science is developmental
psychology? In D. B. Pillemer & S. H. White (Eds.), Developmental
psychology and social change: Research, history, and policy (pp. 1-7).
N. Y.: Cambridge University Press.
Pillemer, D. B. (2004). Can the psychology of memory enrich historical analyses
of trauma? History & Memory, 16, 140-154.
Leichtman, M. D., Wang, Q., & Pillemer, D. B. (2003). Cultural variations
in interdependence and autobiographical memory: Lessons from Korea,
China, India and the United States. In R. Fivush & C. Haden (Eds.),
Connecting culture and memory: The development of an autobiographical
self. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Pillemer, D. B. (2003). Directive functions of autobiographical memory:
The guiding power of the specific episode. Memory, 11, 193-202.
Pillemer, D. B., Wink, P., DiDonato, T. E., & Sanborn, R. (2003).
Gender differences in autobiographical memory styles of older adults.
Memory, 11, 525-532.
Pillemer, D. B. (2001). Momentous events and the life story. Review of General
Psychology, 5, 123-134.
Pillemer, D. B. (2001). How memories of school experiences can enrich
educational evaluations. In R. J. Light (Ed.), New Directions
in Evaluation (number 90, pp. 69-82). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Leichtman, M. D., Pillemer, D. B., Wang, Q., Koreishi, A., & Han, J. J. (2000).
When baby Maisy came to school: Mothers' interview styles and
preschoolers' event memories. Cognitive Development, 15, 99-114.
Pillemer, D.B., Desrochers, A.B., & Ebanks, C.M. (1998). Remembering the past
in the present: Verb tense shifts in autobiographical memory narratives.
In C. P. Thompson, D. J. Herrmann, D. Bruce, J. D. Read, D. G. Payne,
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& M. P. Toglia (Eds.), Autobiographical memory: Theoretical and applied
perspectives. Mahwah, N. J.: Erlbaum.
Pillemer, D. B. (1998). What is remembered about early childhood events?
Clinical Psychology Review, 18, 895-913.
Pillemer, D.B., Picariello, M.L., Law, A.B., & Reichman, J.S. (1996).
Memories of college: The importance of specific educational episodes.
In D. C. Rubin (Ed.), Remembering our past: Studies in
autobiographical memory. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Pillemer, D.B., Picariello, M.L., & Pruett, J.C. (1994). Very long-term memories
of a salient preschool event. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 8, 95-106.
Pillemer, D.B. (1992). Remembering personal circumstances: A functional
analysis. In E. Winograd & U. Neisser (Eds.), Affect and accuracy
in recall: Studies of "flashbulb" memories. New York:
Cambridge University press.
Pillemer, D.B. (1992). Preschool children's memories of personal
circumstances: The fire alarm study. In E. Winograd & U. Neisser
(Eds.), Affect and accuracy in recall: Studies of "flashbulb"
memories. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Pillemer, D.B., Krensky, L., Kleinman, S.N., Goldsmith, L.R., & White, S.H.
(1991). Chapters in narratives: Evidence from oral histories of the
first year in college. Journal of Narrative and Life History, 1, 3-14.
Pillemer, D.B. (1991). One- versus two-tailed hypothesis tests in
contemporary educational research. Educational Researcher, 20, 13-17.
Picariello, M.L., Greenberg, D., & Pillemer, D.B. (1990). Children's sexrelated stereotyping of colors. Child Development, 61, 1453-1460.
Pillemer, D.B. (1990). Clarifying the flashbulb memory concept: Comment on
McCloskey, Wible, and Cohen (1988). Journal of Experimental
Psychology: General, 119, 92-96.
Pillemer, D.B., & White, S.H. (1989). Childhood events recalled by children and adults.
In H.W. Reese (Ed.), Advances in Child Development and Behavior (Vol. 21). New
York: Academic Press.
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Pillemer, D.B., Goldsmith, L.R., Panter, A.T., & White, S.H. (1988). Very long-term
memories of the first year in college. Journal of Experimental Psychology:
Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 14, 709-715.
Goldsmith, L.R., & Pillemer, D.B. (1988). Memories of statements spoken in
everyday contexts. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 2, 273-286.
Pillemer, D.B., Koff, E., Rhinehart, E.D., & Rierdan, J. (1987). Flashbulb memories of
menarche and adult menstrual distress. Journal of Adolescence, 10, 187-199.
Pillemer, D.B., Rhinehart, E.D., & White, S.H. (1986). Memories of life transitions: The
first year in college. Human Learning, 5, 109-123.
Pillemer, D.B. (1984). Conceptual issues in research synthesis. Journal of Special
Education, 18, 27-40.
Pillemer, D.B. (1984). Flashbulb memories of the assassination attempt on President
Reagan. Cognition, 16, 63-80.
Light, R.J., & Pillemer, D.B. (1982). Numbers and narrative: Combining their strengths in
research reviews. Harvard Educational Review, 52, 1-26.
Pillemer, D.B., & Isler, L. (1980). Evaluation of individual studies. In R. Adler, G.S.
Lesser, L. Meringoff, et al., The effects of television advertising on children.
Cambridge, MA: Lexington Books.
Pillemer, D.B., & Light, R.J. (1980). Benefiting from variation in study outcomes. New
Directions for Methodology of Social and Behavioral Science, 5, 1-11.
Pillemer, D.B. & Light, R.J. (1980). Synthesizing outcomes: How to use research evidence
from many studies. Harvard Educational Review, 50, 176-195.
Pillemer, D.B., & Light, R.J. (1979). Using the results of randomized
experiments to construct social programs. In L. Sechrest (Ed.),
Evaluation Studies Review Annual (Volume 4). Beverly Hills: Sage.
White, S.H., & Pillemer, D.B. (1979). Childhood amnesia and the
development of a socially accessible memory system. In J.F. Kihlstrom
& F.J. Evans (Eds.), Functional disorders of memory. Hillsdale, NJ:
Erlbaum.
Feldman, C., Lee, B., McLean, J.D., Pillemer, D.B., & Murray, J. (1978).
Summary of research on cognitive development in Eskimos, 1969-1971. In P.L.
Jamison, S.L. Zegura, & F.A. Milan (Eds.), The Eskimo of Northwestern Alaska: A
biological perspective. Stroudsbourg, PA: Dowden, Hutchinson, and Ross.
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Tivnan, T., & Pillemer, D.B. (1978). The importance of small but consistent differences on
standardized tests: The case of sex differences on the McCarthy Scales of
Children's Abilities. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 34, 443-445.
PRESENTATIONS SINCE 2005
Pillemer, D. B. (2011). Self-esteem memories: A cross-cultural analysis. Paper presented
in symposium, “Autobiographical memory and the self,” International Conference
on Memory, York, England.
Pillemer, D. B. (2011). Directive functions of autobiographical memory: Does emotional
valence matter? Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory Colloquium,
Boston College.
Kuwabara, K J., Rouleau, T. J., & Pillemer, D. B. (2011). Children’s use of
autobiographical memories during social problem-solving. Biennial Meeting of the
Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal.
Fleck, B. K. B., Leichtman, M. D., & Pillemer, D. B. (2011). The effects of documentation
on young children’s memory. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association,
Salt Lake City.
Kuwabara, K. J., & Pillemer, D. B. (2011). Children’s autobiographical memories and
social problem-solving skills. Paper presented at the Society for Applied Research
in Memory and Cognition conference, New York City.
Pillemer, D. B. (2011). Discussant for symposium, “International perspectives on the
functions of autobiographical memory.” Society for Applied Research in
Memory and Cognition conference, New York City.
Pillemer, D. B., & Kuwabara, K. J. (2010). Directive functions of autobiographical
memory: A reconceptualization. Keynote Speaker, Conference on Theoretical
Perspectives on Autobiographical Memory, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Pillemer, D. B. Psychotherapists’ vicarious memories of clients’ stories. ( 2010). Invited
lecture, Wellesley Psychology Educational Forum, Wellesley, MA.
Leichtman, M.D., & Pillemer, D. B. (2010). Episodic learning and memory in classroom
contexts. Psychology Department Colloquium, University of New Hampshire.
Doukas, A. M., Bemis, R. H., Leichtman, M. D., Pillemer, D. B., & Malahy, S. (2010).
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Episodic memory in a middle school classroom: A think-aloud study.
Conference on Human Development, New York City.
Dickson, R. A., Bruehl, E. C., & Pillemer, D. B. (2010). Examining the life script account of
the reminiscence bump. Association for Psychological Science Convention, Boston.
Bemis, R. H., Leichtman, M. D., & Pillemer, D. B. (2009). I remember when I learned that!
Gender and developmental differences in the use of episodic memory. Biennial
Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO.
Pillemer, D. B. (2008). Self-esteem memories. Invited presentation, Department of
Psychology, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Pillemer, D. B. (2008). Gender differences in autobiographical memory: Implications for
educational practice. Invited presentation, Department of Psychology, Aarhus
University, Denmark.
Leichtman, M. D., & Pillemer, D. B. (2008). Gender differences in episodic memory across
the life course. Paper presented in symposium, “Children’s development in
context--from individual to sociocultural influences,” Annual Meeting of the
American Psychological Association, Boston, Ma.
Schmid. K. L., Ivcevic, Z., & Pillemer, D. B. (2008). Gender differences in autobiographical
memories of interactions with parents. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of
the American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
Pillemer, D. B. (2007). Gender differences in episodic memory. Colloquium, Center for the
Study of Human Development, Brown University.
Leichtman, M. D., Pillemer, D. B., Liu, L. S., & Embree, S. L. (2007). Gender
differences in adolescents’ memory sharing during natural conversation.
Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in
Child Development, Boston.
Leichtman, M. D., Pillemer, D. B., Comley, L., Vigliatura, K., & Skowronek, J. S. (2007).
Gender differences in episodic memory in the middle school classroom. Poster
presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child
Development, Boston, MA.
Ivcevic, Z., Pillemer, D. B., & Brackett, M. A. (2007). Early adolescents’ memories of
feeling good and bad about the self. Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of
the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, MA.
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Pillemer, D. B. (2007). Symposium Discussant: “There is more to silence than silence:
Leaving things unsaid shapes memory and the self.” Society for Applied Research
in Memory and Cognition Conference, Bates College.
Pillemer, D. B. (2006). The shape of autobiographical memory. Psychology
Department Colloquium, Colby College.
Bullock, A. B., Pillemer, D. B., & Gooze, R. A. (2005). Children’s sleep
arrangements and special object attachments in the U. S. and China. Poster
presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child
Development, Atlanta.
Leichtman, M. D., Skowronek, J. S., & Pillemer, D. B. (2005). Talking or not
about events of the day: Effects on preschoolers’ long-term memories.
Poster presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child
Development, Atlanta.
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