Ford Argues Trauma Improves Memory. The Science Disagrees.

[Chris]

Came across this article, Ford Argues Trauma Improves Memory. The Science Disagrees..

I recall during Ford's testimony her talking about psychological factor related to memory. Seems she, a psychologist, isn't up on the literature.

During her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford claimed she was 100% certain that it had been Brett Kavanaugh who had assaulted her. When asked how she could be so sure after 35 years, she explained, as a psychologist, that trauma can help keep memories vivid and clear. Medically speaking, this is only half the answer.

Yes, a traumatic experience is one you are more likely to remember. But it is also one your mind is more likely to distort.

Both observational and experimental studies have found that following a traumatic experience, the brain is more likely to commit a “source monitoring error,” i.e. to mix information from different sources.

For instance, if Ford had seen Kavanaugh on the news, and this reminded her of high school and thus her assault, her brain could have convinced her that Kavanaugh had been the assaulter. In other words, it would have confused the “source” of Kavanaugh’s image, believing that it remembered him from the party when it actually remembered him from elsewhere. Such confusion is especially common among those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

Remember that although Dr. Ford had spoken about the assault with her therapist for twelve years, she had never mentioned Kavanaugh’s name, till now. Moreover, two men have called senators and claimed responsibility for the alleged assault.

None of this is to say that Ford is, with certainty, mistaken in her accusation. Rather, I am specifically disputing the claim that the psychological arousal caused by the event guarantees that her memory of the event is accurate. On the contrary, the trauma following the experience may actually impede her memory. The stress of having to fly out to Washington, DC and testify before the committee could have further distorted her recollection.

[The Xl]

Probably depends on the level of trauma and how in control of yourself you were and how cognizant you were in the moment.

[Adelaide]

Probably depends on the level of trauma and how in control of yourself you were and how cognizant you were in the moment.

Alcohol plays a factor.

Generally, your mind protects you. This is basic psychology (like first-year $#@!). Majority of people never fully remember a traumatic event because the brain recognizes it is traumatic. This does not even account for the people who dissociate, typically if the trauma is prolonged or repetitive. This is where it becomes dangerous to see psychologists that claim to do memory retrieval - we are not meant to remember. The memories that are "retrieved" may not actually be memories, but something else usually based on the therapist's suggestions (whether subconscious or conscious). If they are memories, and even when they are not legit memories, then you could easily revictimize the client/patient and potentially reintroduce issues like trauma-related syndromes and/or anxiety. It's dangerous.

It is the same reason that we can't recall physical pain. It is funny that hospitals ask you to rate your pain because you have nothing to compare it to - that's why they had to add the sad faces in triage areas. If humans remembered pain, we probably would have died out by now because women would not be on board with reproducing. Again, your brain realizes it is traumatic and stores it away so you can't retrieve it.

[zachroidott]

Probably depends on the level of trauma and how in control of yourself you were and how cognizant you were in the moment.

All of those 'things' are very slippery, if not a little fluid.

[Tahuyaman]

I once was injured in a very sudden, painful and traumatic event. While I have a very detailed memory of what happened and both why and how, I worked hard to forget about the physical pain I suffered. I wasn’t successful either. I think about it nearly every day.