Memories are the connecting thread between the past and the present. Some are hardly possible to remember, and some are striking in their detail. So what are they and how does this mechanism work? Why are memories false? How to get rid of unpleasant and pleasant than useful?
What are memories
Memories are the ability of the brain to restore images and situations lived in the past. The moments of life that cause more emotions are best remembered. They are much easier to remember, even in the smallest details. Memories are arbitrary and involuntary.
- Arbitrary call those that we try to call on our own. For example, names, dates, addresses, phone numbers, etc.
- Involuntary are spontaneous and appear at the moment when we are faced with images or smells that have been observed in the past. Involuntary are associated with emotions and therefore remain longer in consciousness.
The main difference between arbitrary is that they constitute a conscious memory, and involuntary - unconscious, unintentional.
Memories are:
- nostalgic;
- pleasant
- painful;
- joyful
- fragmentary;
- sad;
- nightmarish;
- romantic, etc.
Being formed in our subconscious, they necessarily pass through aware emotions, which means that they bear their imprint.
How memories are shaped and why they are needed
Memories are formed through the perception and memorization of information from the past, but the processes of their appearance depend on the individual characteristics of the psyche, emotional state, and memory capabilities.
They appear when we are ready to perceive them and change attitudes towards past life.
Such moments can be compared with audio recordings. Losing them every time again and again, there is a rethinking with the acquisition of new parts and episodes.
Memories in psychology
In psychology, refer to the term "reminiscence"that means playing back information stored in memory.
Reminiscence is a delayed memory of perceived or learned material. Such a phenomenon is frequent and occurs at all ages.
It is difficult to distinguish a reminiscence from other phenomena.because it’s about the brain’s ability to reproduce information. But the reminiscence is the most accurate and detailed phenomenon.
Psychology gives a lot of attention to childhood memories. The process of memorization in kids involves figurative memory. In the initial years of his life, the child remembers the images that surround him, but they are kept in consciousness quite a bit.
In a period of three years, memories will acquire a strong emotional color., get stronger and remembered for a long time.
In the process of growing up, a positive result is brought by the leading questions of the parents, when the child tries to remember something. It develops attention, the general level of intelligence.
In the preschool and school age children connect the work of the imagination, go to learning information. During this period, the memories become consistent, continuous and directly depend on the emotional perception of the child.
Pleasant memories are helpful
After a study conducted at the University of San Francisco, it was determined that the quality of memories reflects a level of life satisfaction.
Over time, even negative memories are perceived as an experience and can become neutral or even positive.
Conclusion:
- It is necessary to focus less on the negative and to perceive everything as an experience gained for nothing.
- Events from the past, causing a smile - this is the work of the brain, which means an element that improves memory.
- Pleasant memories are a good motivation. The results of the past are pushing for future achievements, and negative lessons will always tell you how to do it.
In the course of some studies, it was found that extroverts tend to concentrate more on the positive aspects of the past, while introverts leave more touching and sad events in their memory.
How to get rid of unpleasant memories
Any memories are a definition of our individuality, and also form part of our life. If everything is clear with positive memories, then negative ones cause negative emotions or lead to depression.
Not everyone can cope with the "attacks" of a sudden surge of negative wave. What to do if the attack starts?
Find counterweight
Smash negative memories, whatever they were, always help positive and pleasant. What if you remember what beautiful roses grow from your grandmother in the village or how delicious the smell in the kitchen is when your mother cooks. Such echoes may be insignificant, but they will provide a good emotional state.
Rethink
If negative emotions are accompanied by obsessive unpleasant thoughts, it is worth firmly distinguishing between the past and the present. Taking negative situations as a past experience, it is much easier to accept, let go, forget.
Accept what happened
Speaking of experience: memories worry when the subconscious indicates our mistakes. Feelings of guilt, shame, resentment, embarrassment, or fear provoke the unpleasant to float in my head again. What to do in this case? Take our brain's clues: draw certain conclusions to avoid similar situations in the future. Understand that time does not return, why then torture yourself?
Remove irritants
Another good way to destroy memories that bother you is to get rid of everything connected with them (photos, clothes, furniture). To clear the space around you is to clear your mind of harmful memories.
What are false memories, why do they exist
Studies say that memories cannot always be trusted. After all, the processes of memorization may not reflect reality, but distort it.
The influence of emotions on memory is sometimes so strong that it can alter or memorize information. Fantasies become part of reality, perceived as absolute reality.
Unfortunately, there is no method that helps to accurately distinguish between true and false memories, which means false ones take their place along with all the memories.
Confabulation
In psychology, the phenomenon of false memories sometimes manifests itself in the form of confabulation. Confabulation - modified memories, facts that differ from reality or are transferred to another period of time, accompanying non-existent events.
In psychiatry, this phenomenon is usually attributed to disorders. Treatment of such disorders occurs through the reception of vitamins necessary for the proper functioning of the memory, or by cognitive means.
Memories are a mirror of our individuality. They are pleasant and appear to motivate, instill hope. They are unpleasant, to remind of past experiences or to warn against stupid mistakes. But still, memories are an individual record of the soul, which can and is sometimes worth losing.
