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Traumatic events can leave much stronger memories, almost like they're burned in.
by foobarbazqux 13y ago
Traumatic events can leave much stronger memories, almost like they're burned in.
- chimeracoder 13y agoExactly. Even a couple of nights ago, I had a dream about going through airport security on my return trip (even though I returned over a week and a half ago, with no problem).
- jonheller 13y agoThat makes sense. Most of my traumatic memories have been of events that have literally lasted a few seconds, but I can see how the same effect could happen for a longer one. Guess I should count myself lucky I don't have those!
- a-priori 13y agoYes, they're called flashbulb memories and they feel 'stronger' and more detailed than other memories. People assume that they're therefore accurate, but really, they're no more accurate than other memories. In fact, the repeated recall can cause them to become distorted over time. If you want to preserve a memory, write it down immediately while it is fresh. Don't trust that an old memory is accurate.
- foobarbazqux 13y agoWikipedia says the difference between flashbulb memories and traumatic memories is stress, and that there is "a shortage on studies regarding personal events such as accidents or trauma". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashbulb_memory#Flashbulb_memories_compared_to_traumatic_memories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashbulb_memory#Flashbulb_mem... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashbulb_memory#Critique_of_flashbulb_memory_research https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashbulb_memory#Critique_of_f...