Opinion

Dodgy memories

A clear memory is testimony to the truth but it should not be. Researchers at the University of Hull in the UK have found in a survey of 1600 students that one in five can nominate vivid memories of events they have realised did not occur. Most had accepted that the memories were false when they were assured by a parent or sibling that the event did not take place, and others realised themselves that their memory of seeing Santa Claus or a living dinosaur were false. The researchers point out that our sense of identity is based on our memories and that not all our memories are true, so what does that say for our sense of identity? And, importantly, if the students' memories had not been challenged by evidence they would still be part of the experience that goes to the identity.

It's not common but sometimes I am uncertain as to whether a memory is inspired by an event or a dream, or whether the memory is of something that happened or something I was told happened. I must accept, too, that I have memories that are false but unchallenged, although I can have no idea of their proportion in the total. And I was relieved when I heard someone say a month ago that she did not know whether she said a certain thing or dreamt that she said it. Maybe I'm not unusually foggy after all.

My view of clear memory as establishing truth was rocked six years ago when two mates and I gave markedly different accounts of a robbery we watched from the same vantage point. I, for example, remembered the robber propelling a waitress across the room, when I was assured later by everyone that this didn't happen. I didn't make it up, although had I been held to account in court I may have been accused of embellishing the story, of lying. I didn't deliberately, or knowingly, concoct the story of the waitress being thrown across the room. Had I dreamt it? I don't know, and I have no idea where that memory comes from.

Do you have doubts about any of your memories? Can you always distinguish between what happened and what you imagined as happening?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 5/08/2010 5:00:00 AM | Comments (34)

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Jeff, you are in good company. Our courtrooms are full of people who can't remember, albeit a few famous ones too (Alan Bond?). Used it myself once - don't think the old magistrate was too impressed with me. A legal friend once told me that there are far more colourful stories told in court than any hotel in town. Yep I think you are normal. Do you remember riding the Kids Horse ride for .10 Cents a pop for it's full duration on the streets of Coonabarabran one day after a dare. Well I do.

Posted by Bush Bunny, 5/08/2010 7:38:46 AM, on The Herald

Yes Bush Bunny, I do remember that! And just 10 cents! I was a git then and I've grown over the intervening 40 years to become a twit!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 5/08/2010 9:57:18 AM

it's called Alzheimer's Disease JC.... you're gone mate. just get a rocking chair, relax. and eat more fish.

Posted by judgedredd, 5/08/2010 8:50:47 AM, on The Herald

Every day I question my memory! I find when I've been mulling something over in my head and come to a conclusion of what I'm going to say or write, that I actually don't ever say it. I have thought that I have said it, but I didn't. What's worse though is my 95 year old Dad has a better memory than me and a sharper brain. He can recall all sorts of things, whether it happened last week or 90 years ago. That's one thing I didn't inherit from my Dad.

Posted by leahkf, 5/08/2010 9:40:54 AM, on The Herald

Mark Twain : ..... The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that never happened. .... When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not. ...

Posted by MT, 5/08/2010 9:43:31 AM, on The Herald

here we have it - why jeff has this column. he cannot be relied upon to give an accurate report on anything newsworthy that he witness's. Sorry Jeff but you lifted the lid. But saying that - you are a creative journalist , that's obviously of value. In the court case you forgot the three conspiracy theorys though? The robbery was just a cover for something much more sinister and you were the only one to see that?

Posted by hahaha, 5/08/2010 9:49:24 AM, on The Herald

i remember as a kid the local copper giving wayward kids a kick up the bum...

Posted by fista, 5/08/2010 9:53:15 AM, on The Herald

Aah fista, you've heard that story so often you've come to remember it!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 5/08/2010 9:55:22 AM

My memory's fine...I have fond memories of eating hamburgers in a diner, wearing jackets with letters on them and playing the jukebox...I think the place was called Arnold's?...or was that TV?

Posted by stevo106, 5/08/2010 10:02:05 AM, on The Herald

none of this is real. we are all in the matrix.

Posted by catl, 5/08/2010 10:20:05 AM, on The Herald

I suspect that the tit has real problems with this phenomenom. The repressed memory thing is something I have always had some degree of scepticism about. No doubt in some case there may be a kernel of truth to the memory, but in many cases I feel that it is grossly distorted and exaggerated. Unfortunately there are a number of “psychotherapists” who then go on to treat psychological and psychiatric illnesses which they claim have their origins in these past events. I often wonder if this is a disservice to these people, and delays or prevents a real diagnosis and effective treatment.

Posted by Directeur Sportif, 5/08/2010 10:58:09 AM, on The Herald

One thing I never fail to remember, is whenever an election is in the offing, the golden, heartwarming promises of the wannabe elected Pollies. However, I do have a major problem remembering how many of those wonderful promises eventuated. So sad.

Posted by MizJasper, 5/08/2010 11:08:09 AM, on The Herald

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