Psychologists generally agree on the importance of early events in personality development, yet until now there has not been an opportunity to look at the personal lives of a group of adults over a considerable time. Subjects examined were 16 men and 44 women, parents of the subjects of the Guidance Study, a longitudinal study of the Institute of Human Development, Berkeley. At three time periods, 1929-1931, 1945-1947, and 1968-1969, there were interviews of these parents, whose mean age was 68.8 at the last interview. Twenty-four "factual" and 24 "attitudinal" variables are examined. Information ranging from questions about education, occupation and place of birth, to relationship and bond with spouse, parents and children, which was reported two or more times, is included. It was found that some parents are more consistent reporters. Factual variables were recalled with more consistency than attitudinal variables. Analysis of the ratings of happiness of the parent's childhood found that a continually and significantly increasing number reported themselves as having had a happy childhood. Reports were no more and no less consistent for the periods when the parents were younger or when time periods were shorter. A "sag" in the perceptions of the parents was found when their children were 17 years old. Parents' reports during this period were less optimistic than they were either before or after. (Author/BMW)