Answer to Question #241217 in Psychology for Holi

Question

During the 1990s there were a lot of cases of reported child abuse based on repressed memory. Many individuals were arrested and jailed, many of which were innocent. Sigmund Freud believed that individuals repress their memories (not consciously) so that their painful effects would not have to be experienced. There is a lot of controversy as to whether repressed memories can be trusted.

In this assignment, look for a news article (old or new) describing the resurface of repressed memory or studies on it. Then write a paper summarizing the article, what was the conclusion of the story/study?

Based on your readings and assignments, under what circumstances are repressed memories more likely to surface? In your opinion, what are the possible effects of having these memories resurface? What are your personal beliefs about your mind repressing memories that may be too painful? Do you find some truth to it?

Answer 1

The purpose of the study I read was to see if trauma victims truly repress memories and if therapy can create false memories. Abuse and trauma during important developmental times are linked to both biological and psychological susceptibility, according to the conclusion of the paper. And early exposure to trauma can cause physical changes in the brain, making it easier to develop mental illnesses later in life. It also causes challenges with self-esteem and makes it difficult to develop trusted connections, according to the report.

In a nutshell, all parties interested in the impact of abuse and trauma on a person's development agree that the consequences can last a lifetime. With this in mind, the article suggests that identifying the problem of child abuse should take precedence, followed by focusing on the creation of therapeutic strategies. The research I read didn't go into great length on the circumstances in which suppressed memories are more likely to reappear. It does, however, discuss potential faults in attempting to recover these memories. It demonstrates that Sigmund Freud believed that repressed memories could be distorted, inaccurate, and possibly incorrect. In my perspective, the most likely occasions for repressed memories to surface are when a person is confronted with a setting that is identical to the stored away painful experience. A similar traumatic occurrence could activate a memory, causing individuals to repeat the experience.

The consequences of having a suppressed memory resurface, in my opinion, vary from person to person. Each person handles and processes emotions in their own unique way. Someone might feel ashamed, someone else might feel worthless, someone else might feel guilty and blame themselves, and someone else might not be impacted at all. According to Freud's studies, the effects might be so far-reaching that one loses physical functioning.

Before reading any materials on psychology or how we deal with bad memories, I was under the impression that people who repress bad memories, or who go through traumatic experiences and come out of them with no recollection of them, have a safety mechanism activated in their brains to prevent them from having a complete mental breakdown. People, according to Freud's research, lock away memories of traumatic childhood events so that they do not interfere with daily life. “Freud understood it as a basic defensive mechanism in which the mind forgets or relocates experiences, thoughts, and memories that it cannot accept or bear.”

Do I believe all of this information is accurate? Yes, I feel there is some truth in it all. I have pals who have confided in me about their horrible abuse experiences. They all have the difficulty to develop meaningful relationships, as well as a constant battle with self-esteem and depression. Following these (friends) events in my life. I can't help but agree with the conclusions of these investigations. I've witnessed them in action in my own life.