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> says the memory usually works in the opposite way, with traumatised people reliving experiences they would rather forget. I don't see how this contradicts th
by dejb 16y ago
> says the memory usually works in the opposite way, with traumatised people reliving experiences they would rather forget.
I don't see how this contradicts the notion that there could be people who would repress memories. If anything it seems to suggest that repression would be a successful strategy if it could be managed. By their argument there could be a substantial population or 'successful repressers' that never seek therapy and could resist all efforts to stimulate memory of repressed events. It would only be the population of 'unsuccessful repressers' that they would ever get to see. That could, of course, then be further confused by a population of people who, for whatever reason, experience faked memories.
- rimantas 16y agoIf anything it seems to suggest that repression would be a successful strategy if it could be managed. Eveolutionary memory repression would be a bit like feeling no pain: increased risk to get hurt again.
- Groxx 16y agoThat argument can go both ways. If the pain of the memory is causing you to be hurt more, then repressing it is to your benefit. Given what depression does to people, based on that argument alone, I'd say evolution strongly favors repression of any rare trauma.
- endtime 16y agoI think it would be more like adrenaline, which masks pain so that you can continue to function.