Repressed memories
M Winther
psychoanalytic tenet of the capacity to repress memories. "Ny
forskning om minnen ger Freud r�tt" ("New memory research has proven
Freud right")
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=4584691
EEG-equipment was used in the research, to measure brain waves. Gerd
Thomas Waldhauser says that the brain region which is responsible for
the inhibition of motoric impulses is also activated at memory
repression. It is possible to train this function in order to improve
the capacity to repress memories, which could be useful in depression
and in trauma. The test persons were capable of forgetting simple
words, in a given series of words, if they wished this.
Mats Winther
Peter Brooks
> Recent research at Lund University, Sweden, has verified the
> psychoanalytic tenet of the capacity to repress memories. "Ny
> Freud right")http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=4584691
>
> EEG-equipment was used in the research, to measure brain waves. Gerd
> Thomas Waldhauser says that the brain region which is responsible for
> the inhibition of motoric impulses is also activated at memory
> repression. It is possible to train this function in order to improve
> the capacity to repress memories, which could be useful in depression
> and in trauma. The test persons were capable of forgetting simple
> words, in a given series of words, if they wished this.
>
baggage attached. There's a rather nasty industry devoted to
'uncovering' what are claimed to be repressed memories of childhood
and claiming the results to be accurate, thus causing much unhappiness
to many people. In fact, of course, this mainly consists of planting
quite new memories through suggestion.
There has been a fair bit of research showing that recalling memories
fixes them more firmly, whilst never recalling them leads them to
fade. This seems to me a better explanation of what's going on. We
clear out trivial, or (to be circular) unmemorable, memories every
day, that's partly what sleep seems to be important for.
M Winther
the study does not address this problem. In fact, this research proves
that repression is a function that evolution has developed for useful
purposes. This means that some memories should be remain buried. So
the findings do not necessarily reinforce what you refer to as the
"nasty industry devoted to 'uncovering' [...] repressed memories."
Psychological repression derives from motoric repression. If a pot
plant falls to the floor then we automatically react to catch it.
However, if it is a cactus, then we can repress the motoric impulse.
Memory repression works similarly. If a repressed content "falls" to
consciousness, then we can maintain the repression and refrain from
catching that "cactus".
This is very useful in the fight for survival, and to get on with
life. You cannot allow yourself to be disturbed by painful memories
when you need to keep focused. You wouldn't be able to do demanding
intellectual work. If you are an engine driver, you would miss the red
light.
In fact, memories can be repressed, as such. It needn't be associated
with feelings of anxiety. In a list of words, such as "apple and
banana", the test persons are capable of repressing 'banana'. When the
list of words is recalled, they can't remember 'banana'. So the
repressive faculty is not a "mistake" of psychic life. In fact, it is
a necessary function that we could not do without. However, it causes
a lot of problems, also.
It is sometimes argued that repressed content must always be
integrated with consciousness, and that this is always a better
solution. This is incorrect. In fact, certain experiences in one's
earlier life would better remain buried in the earth. To dig them up
is like going to the churchyard, digging up an old corpse. Probably
the grave robber theme, of the necrophilic motif, has occurred many
times in psychoanalysis.
If a beloved child has died, it is probably worthwhile to repress many
memories connected with it, and continue with life. Why should one
recall the memories of one's dead child as long as it only evokes
pain? Memories better remain buried.
So there seem to be two types of repressed content: (1) content that
belong in consciousness and that have an impetus to reunite with
consciousness, and (2) content that better remain buried. The latter
do not strive toward consciousness, and one should leave them be. Such
content belong in the unconscious and do not cause secondary effects,
psychosomatic symptoms, etc. It is the content of type (1) that cause
unconscious problems as they do not belong there.
Mats Winther
"Peter Brooks" <peter.h....@gmail.com> skrev i meddelandet
news:c8098dc9-f298-4f1a...@k27g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
On Jul 4, 3:13 pm, "M Winther" <m...@swipnet.se> wrote:
> Recent research at Lund University, Sweden, has verified the
> psychoanalytic tenet of the capacity to repress memories. "Ny
> forskning om minnen ger Freud r�tt" ("New memory research has proven