1. Psychoanalytic Approach to Memory

2. Repression Freudian theory (1915-1918)
“In Freud's theory of "repression" the mind automatically banishes traumatic events from memory to prevent overwhelming anxiety. Freud further theorized that repressed memories cause "neurosis," which could be cured if the memories were made conscious…Freud's repression theory has never been verified by rigorous scientific proof.” –John Hockmann.
The theory of unconsciously repressing the memory of traumatic experiences is controversial.
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3. Repression (Continued)
So, what is a repressed memory?
A repressed memory is the memory of a traumatic event unconsciously retained in the mind, where it is said to adversely affect conscious thought, desire, and action.
It is common to consciously repress unpleasant experiences. Many psychologists believe that unconscious repression of traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse or rape is a defense mechanism which backfires.
The unpleasant experience is forgotten but not forgiven. It lurks beneath consciousness and allegedly causes a myriad of psychological and physical problems from bulimia to insomnia to suicide.
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4. Why is Repression Controversial?
There is little scientific evidence to support either the notion that traumatic experiences are typically unconsciously repressed.
Most people do not forget traumatic experiences unless they are rendered unconscious at the time of the experience. No one has identified a single case where a specific traumatic experience in childhood was repressed and the repressed memory of the event, rather than the event itself, caused a specific psychiatric or physical disorder in adulthood.
The strength of the scientific evidence for repression depends on exactly how the term is defined. When defined narrowly as intentional suppression of an experience, there is little reason to doubt that it exists.
But when we talk about a repression mechanism that operates unconsciously and defensively to block out traumatic experiences, the picture becomes considerably murkier.
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5. Task: attempt to answer the following question…
Explain Memory from the psychoanalytic approach (10 marks)