Why does the brain mostly remember tragic, bad or embarassing memories instead of the happy ones

Question

Why does the brain mostly remember tragic, bad or embarassing memories instead of the happy ones

In: 4262

Answer 1

Strong emotions are linked to more recallable memories. This does work for positive memories too; people are unlikely to forget the birth of their first child, for example. However, negative emotions tend to be stronger (have more energy), especially in an untrained mind. Building the skill of equanimity lowers this effect.