Memory

I have been watching some videos on memories and how they can get really messed up, quite easily. In the first video, a man watched a picnic between a couple take place. He tried to remember as much about what happened at the picnic as he could. A couple days later, he was shown pictures from the picnic, only there were a few pictures that depicted things that didn't happen when he was watching. There were a couple things in the pictures that he said he remembers seeing happen at the picnic, when in reality, he had only just seen them in the pictures. This is an example of theories that talk about "false memories" that are created by our brains. A lot of times, we will see something (whether it be real or something in our head) and automatically associate it with something that actually happened, and we will think it was apart of it.

Here's a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lisNg91_M0

There was another video I watched that had a classic "Whodunnit?" scene acted out. Since it's a classic scene, we all know what we're supposed to do: As the suspects are questioned, we have to listen to each of their stories and see which one doesn't add up. I watched and tired to figure it out. Soon, the correct person was arrested. I was unable to figure out who it was fast enough, but it turns out that that wasn't the point of the video. As the camera had panned from person to person, things in the background changed. Twenty-one things, to be precise. I didn't really notice any of them until they were pointed out. As the video then stated, it is easy to miss something you are not looking for. This is another example of how our brain can be tricked simply because of a pre-conceived purpose we have given it. Having a specific idea in mind can ultimately block it from noticing things that need to be noticed, or remembering things that need to be remembered.

Here's a link to that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubNF9QNEQLA

I don't have a very good memory, so I can only imagine how many memories I have that are incorrect. I've noticed that I do better at remembering visual things than numbers or words. But after watching these videos, I feel kind of helpless, haha. I think doing lots of these games to test your memory can help, though. It's important to have a good memory because memory goes right along with identity and purpose. What's the point of living if you don't know who you are or why you're doing what you're doing? Memory keeps us in check. Memory is the key.

- Christian