: How do we forget something easily even if we try to remember it as hard as we can, but the same thing comes to our mind when we are not even thinking about it?

Question

: How do we forget something easily even if we try to remember it as hard as we can, but the same thing comes to our mind when we are not even thinking about it?

In:

Answer 1

some of the answers so far do a good job of explaining how memory generally works. unfortunately i don’t think any of them take the next step and successfully answer the OP’s question, which I’m guessing (I’m by no means an expert but psych BA and lifelong follower of cog sci) has to do with conscious vs unconscious recall. it would be great if someone who is an expert could address that part of the question.