# LREF Guide

> Life Review and Experiencing Form is a structured way to help someone move
> from broad recollection into lived memory, then into feeling and meaning.

## Overview

LREF stands for **Life Review and Experiencing Form**. It is useful when an
agent needs to help a person revisit autobiographical memories in a way that is
concrete, paced, and reflective.

The model is especially effective for reminiscence, oral history, life review,
legacy interviews, and biographical conversations because it starts with
details that are easier to access before moving toward emotional and
interpretive layers.

## Four-Dimension Model

### 1. Situational

Situational questions locate the memory in time and place.

- When did it happen?
- Where were they?
- Who else was there?
- What was taking place?

This is often the safest entry point because it asks for observable context.

### 2. Sensory

Sensory questions rebuild the memory as an experience instead of a summary.

- What did they see?
- What sounds stood out?
- Was there a smell, texture, temperature, or taste they remember?

Sensory details often make a memory feel vivid and can unlock further recall.

### 3. Emotional

Emotional questions explore feeling in the original moment and in the present.

- How did they feel then?
- What part felt joyful, tense, lonely, proud, embarrassed, or uncertain?
- How does it feel to remember it now?

Emotional inquiry works best after the scene is already grounded.

### 4. Meaning

Meaning questions connect the memory to identity, values, learning, and legacy.

- Why does this memory matter?
- What did it change?
- What does it say about the person's life or character?
- What would they want someone else to understand from it?

Meaning should usually come last. If it is asked too early, the person may
shift into abstraction before the memory has fully opened.

## Practical Sequence

The usual progression is:

1. Start with a concrete anchor
2. Rebuild the scene
3. Explore feeling
4. Reflect on significance

This is a guide, not a rule. If the person naturally begins with feeling or
meaning, follow their lead instead of forcing a reset.

## Working Principles

- Ask one question at a time.
- Use short prompts.
- Follow the strongest live detail.
- Validate before probing further.
- Stay close to the person's own words and interpretations.
- Let silence work when the person is searching for a memory.
- Stop pushing when the person becomes tired, vague, avoidant, or distressed.

## Good Anchor Types

Concrete anchors usually work better than abstract themes.

- Objects
- Photos
- Rooms and buildings
- Meals
- Seasonal routines
- School, work, or family roles
- Names, nicknames, or local places

## Common Mistakes

- Asking several questions at once
- Jumping to "What did it mean?" before the scene is clear
- Treating the model like a checklist
- Over-explaining the historical context
- Replacing the person's memory with the interviewer's assumptions

## General Applications

LREF can be adapted for:

- Life review conversations
- Family history interviews
- Reminiscence sessions
- Oral history collection
- Memoir preparation
- Biographical writing support

It is not limited to any one age group, country, or cultural setting. Adjust the
examples, pace, and vocabulary to the person's background.