This brief interview with MIT neurobiologist Matt Wilson, posted on the TIME website a few days ago, is an interesting addition to a long-standing debate about memory: do people recall good or bad events more easily?
Convincing research exists for both arguments, but according to …
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I do remember some positive things, but I really mostly remember bad stuff about people.
I think the fading affect bias is why women have more than one child. Because why else would anyone do that more than once?!?
I, too, tend to exhibit the precise opposite behaviour. With good events (the recognition of the success of my business, maybe ten years ago), all I can remember is that I *was* happy; I can’t actually remember what it felt like. On the other hand, with negative events (a malicious false accusation of sexual misconduct, 19 years ago), I can remember every detail and constantly revisit it mentally in a vain attempt to understand her motivation and to try to identify warning signs in her behaviour that I might look for in others.
This does seems to resonate with Prof. Wilson’s idea of using memory to learn lessons from past events.
I think negative memories are recalled easier because they stick out. Most people have tons of good memories, and less negative ones. They hence are the “odd ball” and are easier to recall.
Overall I think that memories which are coupled with affective reactions are remembered the best – regardless of their valence.
Thanks, Dragos! I think that sums it up nicely — the stronger our reaction to an event, whether positive or negative, the more likely we are to remember it.
There is a very good reason that our brain would tend to remember and recall past strong “negative” experiences. These are often “tagged” by our brain as a “life threat” by our instinctive “survival” brain. Brain imaging research (Eisenberger, 2003) found so-called “negative” emotionally painful experiences (everyday occurrences such as rejection) are processed by the same human brain area that registers “physical” pain. The Brain Works Project explains this phenomenon to both pre-teens and adults as part of learning brain-based coping skills. Further information on this brain phenomenon is explained on the brain function education website: http://www.copingskills4kids.net.
There is a very good reason that our brain would tend to remember and recall past strong “negative” experiences. These are often “tagged” by our brain as a “life threat” by our instinctive “survival” brain. Brain imaging research (Eisenberger, 2003) found so-called “negative” emotionally painful experiences (everyday occurrences such as rejection) are processed by the same human brain area that registers “physical” pain. The Brain Works Project explains this phenomenon to both pre-teens and adults as part of learning brain-based coping skills. Further information on this brain phenomenon is explained on the brain function education website: http://www.copingskills4kids.net.
Is this why at 63 I can recall in minute detail a brush with a paedophile when aged 5 and my fathers attempt at incest at age 14 but have hazy memories of my 1st wedding?I have often heard said that what traumatises you, you will remember very clearly all your life .
I have experienced this in revisting something that deeply affected me.As I tried to process a series of events ,I rumminated on every detail,trying to sort it out.I think I was trying to see it in another light,and to put things right.It is hard when things don’t seem logical.This time was around the loss of someone I loved so the impact was huge.Also when it alters our perception of ourselves , we need to learn from it, and do a bit of an autopsy of the event.
Is this why at 63 I can recall in minute detail a brush with a paedophile when aged 5 and my fathers attempt at incest at age 14 but have hazy memories of my 1st wedding?
This must be why at 63 I can recall in minute detail a brush with a paedophile when aged 5 and my fathers attempt at incest at age 14 but have hazy memories of my 1st wedding?