by Dr Bruce Powell
Humans are not video recorders. We are more like storytellers, great at shaping memorable stories and prone to bending the facts. Two decades ago, Daniel Schacter a Harvard Psychologist grouped memory’s failings into seven “sins”. Human beings like a neat numbered list. Helps us remember it. I really like the surname Schacter because it looks like Shatner of Capt Kirk, Star Trek fame. Memory isn’t my strongest suit but I’ll not forget that. We each make memories in our own very personal way and we modify and forget them in the same unique fashion.
Omissions in our memory come in several forms. Memories gradually fade over time for most of us. While a few of us have a Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), able to recall the minutiae decades on from an event, the rest of us mortals can achieve something similar by repeatedly, actively recalling information, telling stories, looking at photos, singing songs. That’s NOT the same as just re-reading it. Another omission occurs at the interface between attention and memory. We forget our car keys or an appointment. These are most commonly caused by routine changes and missed cues. Simple external reminders and prompts will cure this. Finally, ‘blocking’ is that tip-of-the-tongue-state where we may actually be suppressing unwanted memories. This requires a complex coordination between different parts of the memory system that each may have a fragment of the whole story.
Then there are the sins of Commission. Sometimes we remember content, but file it in the wrong place. If a new scene shares the structure of a past one, we can cross reference the two and trick ourselves into feeling we’ve “been here” or “done this before.” Our brains do enjoy adopting false memories after being fed misinformation especially if our imagination or social pressures fit that construct. Many “false beliefs” can feel like fully formed memories, persuasive and coherent. Now that we are talking about creativity, our current beliefs can reshape our recollection of the past. We often “remember” fake news stories that align with our worldview, smoothing the past to match the present. Finally, there are traumatic memories, intrusive thoughts, and rumination that we can not escape. These memories are debilitating, but reflect our memory’s innate talent of prioritising emotionally intense experiences.
Captain Kirk (Daniel Schacter) concluded that these errors are not simply flaws but the by-products of an adaptive, constructive memory system. Forgetting the fluff and the routine helps clear the mental clutter. Misattribution and bias are the glue that binds old and new information. Even false memories can contribute to our problem-solving and creativity. The same mental flexibility that lets us imagine the future, solve problems, and tell stories is also what leaves us vulnerable to mistakes. Memory isn’t a perfect archive, it’s a fluid, creative process.
“Is that what you think happened?” My wife asks after reading my memoir.
“What can I say? These are MY memories.”
LSA Associate member Dr Bruce Powell, whose life story journey spans from hospital emergency surgeon to accident survivor himself. In writing his life story, he’s grappled with having no recall of this pivotal crisis in his life and how his brain injury affected his memory. Bruce draws on both his clinical background and lived experience to tell stories that matter. He shares his perspective through writing and speaking engagements, connecting with audiences from all walks of life. Visit Bruce’s website for more insights and listen to his Podcasts ‘Shift Happens’ and ‘FUBARBUNDY’.
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