07/10/09
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Memories VS Evidence
The memories of an event or a thing is sometimes SO different from the impression we get when we look at the documentary evidence of that event or thing.
The main problem of memory as a sort of evidence is that it is so strongly influenced by emotion. Endel Tulving, the great U of T psychology professor has done a lot of research showing how emotion influences how memories are retained and what we choose to remember.
I recall my friend Mike telling me that he 'rarely remembers what happened, but remembers how he felt about it'.
Does this make memory an unreliable guide to what actually happened?
When we look at the evidence, say old emails or pictures, and look at in a relatively objective way, the event seems to look different - less heavy, less personal - more light, more small.
I dont know which to use.
The main problem of memory as a sort of evidence is that it is so strongly influenced by emotion. Endel Tulving, the great U of T psychology professor has done a lot of research showing how emotion influences how memories are retained and what we choose to remember.
I recall my friend Mike telling me that he 'rarely remembers what happened, but remembers how he felt about it'.
Does this make memory an unreliable guide to what actually happened?
When we look at the evidence, say old emails or pictures, and look at in a relatively objective way, the event seems to look different - less heavy, less personal - more light, more small.
I dont know which to use.
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