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Written Assignment Unit 4: Suppress memories

University of the People

PSYC 1504 Introduction to Psychology

Dr. Mary Martin, Instructor

February 23, 2022

Article

The Australian newspaper report about psychologist using “potentially dangerous”

therapy techniques to recover repressed memories in clients with history of trauma.

Newman (2017).

Summary

The above mentioned article stated that Sigmund Freud came up with the idea of

repression of memory in people. People store away painful memories of their childhood days so

they don’t affect daily activities.

The article mentioned that recovering from trauma involves recalling and understanding

past events. But repressed memories, where the victim remembers nothing of the abuse, are

relatively unusual and there is little evidence about their occurrences in trauma survivors.

Freud presented the perception that child abuse is a cause of mental sickness such as

hysteria. People with these disorders could lose bodily functions. It is a fundamental defensive

process where the mind forgets or places events, thoughts and memories we cannot accept. Freud
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suggested that if these memories weren’t recalled, it could result in physical or mental

symptoms. An example would be suddenly losing speech ability when someone has an awful

memory of trauma they feel powerless to reveal. These memories may surface in identical

situation.

Conclusion

This article put forward that memories that are painful are kept a bay so they won’t

interfere with daily routine. However, In order for some people to recover from trauma they must

recall and comprehend the event. The article did not go into details as to the surroundings why

repressed or suppressed memories appear again. The article discuss prospective flaw in trying to

recover suppress memories. The article explained that, Psychologist, Sigmund Freud believed

that suppressed memories if not treated right could lead to physical problem such as loss of

speech.

Base on your reading and assignment, under what circumstances are repress memories

more likely to surface?

From the reading material and assignment, the most likely situation for suppress

memories to surface are during an experience where an individual is confronted with a

phenomenon identical to a painful experience. That uncovered memory could cause a repeat of
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experience. Different persons handles emotions differently. Depend on the memories that surface

some people might feel insignificant, embarrassed, guilty, and hold themselves responsible.

Some persons might not even be affected at all according to Freud’s studies. The effect of these

uncovered memories might cause some level of physical discomfort.

What are your personal belief about your mind repressing memories that may be too

painful?

I support the article about the mind repressing bad memories that are painful. I had

painful experiences as a child and sometimes similar situation surround me where I had to

remove myself from the situation to avoid any painful memories from resurfacing. Hence, based

on my experience it is my belief that the mind represses bad memories.

Do you find some truth to it?

Finally, I discovered a lot of truth in relation to the mind repressing painful memories.
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Reference

Louise Newman (2022). Do trauma victims really repress memories and can therapy induce false

memories? Daily Bulletin.

Https://www.dailybulletin.com.au/the-conversation/33893-do-trauma-victims-really-

repress-memories-and-can-therapy-induce-false-memories>