The relationship between memory and emotion is often assumed to be one of the most intricate parts of human experience. It is well known that emotions can have powerful effects on memory, for better or worse. When someone experiences an intense emotion, such as fear or love, it becomes more likely for them to remember associated memories vividly. In this way, emotional states can shape what we choose to remember from our past experiences.
Recent research has shown that memory and emotion also interact in less predictable ways than previously thought. One example of this is how personal myths are created.
In psychology, a 'myth' refers to a belief about oneself or others that may be based on little evidence but strongly held nonetheless. Personal myths tend to involve some combination of identity, emotion, and memory.
Someone who believes they were always treated poorly in childhood might feel angry towards their parents even when presented with evidence to the contrary. This type of myth can become a part of a person's self-concept, influencing how they view themselves and their relationships moving forward. Memories play a crucial role in the creation of these types of myths, but so do emotions.
One reason why memories are linked to emotions is that both are processed by similar brain regions. Both emotional memories and autobiographical memories activate areas like the hippocampus and amygdala, which are involved in storing and processing information. Another reason is that emotions can influence attention, which affects what is remembered and forgotten. If something makes us feel good or bad, it will capture our focus more easily than neutral events.
This creates a bias in our recollection of the world around us.
It seems likely that memory and emotion work together to create personal myths. Emotional memories are easier to recall and thus shape our sense of self, while personal myths can exaggerate negative feelings from the past. Together, these factors can lead people to hold onto unhelpful narratives about themselves and others, even as objective facts contradict them. Understanding this relationship is important for helping individuals identify and change dysfunctional beliefs.
How do memory and emotion interact to create personal myths about who we think we are?
Personal myths about oneself can be created through interactions between memory and emotion. Memories can become distorted and biased due to forgetting certain details or events that don't fit with our beliefs or desires. This may lead to an overgeneralization of memories, which is a type of cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate the likelihood that something will happen again.