Examples Of Retroactive Interference Syndrome By Herman Ebbinghaus

Retroactive interference is when more recent information gets in the way of trying to recall older information. An example would be calling your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend by your new boyfriend/girlfriend’s name. The new name retroactively interferes with the old one, which is clearly problematic for

When individuals have previously experienced a saddening, painful past, their desire to retain these past memories allows them to temporarily stay away from the hurtful reality. Their preservation of former events deludes their consciousness as they are unwilling to confront reality and wish to permanently live in a seemingly happy, satisfying illusion. In The Underpainter, Jane Urquhart suggests that when individuals are unwilling to move on from the past, their desire to maintain their past memories causes them to create a long-term irrational illusion since the reality they are currently living strongly contravenes with their illusion. As a result of their unwillingness to embrace with reality, others who unexpectedly are able to perceive

I don’t remember much of my childhood. It’s been said that when you experience trauma, your brain has a defense mechanism to help you forget it ever happened. This is both helpful and hurtful in terms of carrying on. I don’t remember much of my mother before her alcoholism began to control her. I wish I could remember what she was like; I’ve been told she was a wonderful mother, though it’s very hard for me to believe that now.

The psychological trauma experienced by Larry and Karen (n.d.) in the sudden, unexpected death of their one-year-old son is enough to threaten their sense of security, make them feel vulnerable to dangers in life and can cause them to lose all sense of direction in their life. Karen experienced a dissociative disorder known as dissociative amnesia (APA, 1994). The sudden onset of her son’s death was an extremely traumatic event that caused her to experience a temporary amnesia of the events of the previous week including the death of her son. The extent of the emotional trauma results in temporary impairment but it can be

Standing at the top of the stairs, the savory scent of baking biscuits drifted up from the kitchen below. She could understand why Fiona’s traveling salesman always picked this room. The luscious aroma filled the house with mouth-watering delight. The growling of her stomach led her to the dining room where she slid into a chair at an already empty table.

The author had chosen to share her story anonymously about the resurfacing of her repressed memories in an online Blogger page. Hoping to share her experience as a victim of the symptoms and offer her email to anyone whom may have the same problems and would like to have one to talk to (Survivor Blog, 2009).

Re-experiencing an event occurs in different ways. First, a person may have disturbing recollections of the traumatic event consciously while awake or unconsciously in a dream state. Other events may occur to trigger symptoms and the affected person may dissociate while reliving the traumatic moment or moments. The layman’s term, “flashback”, defines the common re-experiencing event where a person feels as though he or she is reliving the trauma (Kulkarni et al., 2011; Norman, 2000; Owens, Baker, Kasckow, Ciesla & Mohamed, 2005).

Annie’s memory of that Sunday mimicked involuntary intrusive memories. Remembering certain aspects of a trauma may be difficult, yet certain things may stick in one’s head as a reminder of the traumatic event. Brewin (2007) explained that: “Patients typically described between one and four highly repetitive memories, mainly consisting of sensory experiences of short duration” (p.7). However, the memory an individual holds in relation to a traumatic experience may differ depending on the severity of it; yet, if it was negative, the recollecting process of the memory may be difficult. In Annie’s case, her memory of that Sunday affected her negatively. Brewin’s (2007) research on memory relates closely to Annie’s experience: “memory for negative events tends to be poorer than memory for corresponding positive events” (Brewin, 2007, p.3). ADD

His butcher shop was a small building with one table and a few employees. The butcher shop smelled of raw meat and the scraps were thrown in buckets that were scattered throughout the building. The grocery store was owned by an old lady by the name of Gail Goldberg. The grocery store she ran was called Gail’s Groceries and always had the aroma of fresh

If the episode is associated with a traumatic event, the amnesia may clear when the individual is removed from the traumatic situation.

When we think back to our childhoods, we generally remember our prominent memories. I remember sitting in a stroller in Walt Disney World with a Popsicle melting in my hand, and I remember the last time I visited my grandmother before she passed away. I also have insignificant memories. I remember one morning when I was around the age of six, I came downstairs with my hair in knots and a blanket still wrapped around my shoulders. I then crawled onto a tall chair at the kitchen counter and turned on the TV, as I did every morning. “Good morning, honey.” My mother said behind me.

The mouthwatering smell of roasting turkey & sizzling ham only adds to the medley of heavenly aromas wafting throughout the entire house as I step out from behind the closed door of my room. My kitchen, spacious, yet always felt cramped; like a can of sardines. I began to maneuvered my 5 year old self through the dozens of friends and family members. As squeezed between people the odor of pungent onions and jalapeño, they began bringing tears to my eyes much like my little sister when the Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercial came on. I finally made it through

For a moment, I forgot that I had ever been with anybody else; I had forgotten that I had a whole other life before I met her.

Adlerian psychotherapists often ask their clients about early recollections. What are the assumptions of this technique and how does it facilitate the therapeutic process?