Memory illusion

Memory illusion

When we see photos of our childhood or listen to stories about our childhood we often can remember well and enjoy this. At the same time we of course remember what had happened and are sure that I had happened.

New research found out that often memory can be an illusion. If ……..you show someone a photo and tell a wonderful picturesque story about the photo you will “remember” something which never happened but what is induced by the wonderful story you was told.

We already know for a long time that memory is an associative process. Insofar the brain loves the combination of a photo and a wonderful story to be satisfied and which helps the brain to produce a “memory”.

So be aware when you see photos or listen to stories about your childhood. 😉

You of course will find more about this issue and the herewith connected research in the book of Julia Shaw. Have a look.

This of course has an important impact on psychotherapy and of course it’s a big challenge for psychotherapists who work with memory. Of course it’s necessary and helpful and important to work with memory, but be aware not to rely too soon on a story which the client tells you which was told to him by somebody from his family. Try to find out the clients story which is connected with pictures, photos and try to find the sense which is connected with the memorized situation but also makes sense to the personality and the structure of the psyche and the emotional state. And of course always proof this by asking your counter-transference.

Of course it is also helpful to proof on the body-level so that you together with the client can find out if there are correlations or too much discrepancy.

And of course at the end take into notice that not the memory is so important but the way how the memory influences the situation in the therapy here-and-now and the relationship to you as a therapist.

http://www.drjuliashaw.com/the-memory-illusion.html