Why is it that horrific images remained burned into your memory but normal/wholesome images you forget over a much shorter period of time?
In: Other
Because evolution-wise, remembering bad things is way more important to survival. You know how if you drink too much or get food poisoning, that drink or food can make you nauseous even years later? It’s because your body recognizes the poison and remembers so you avoid that thing in the future.
Well guess what you have the same protection built in for emotions and situations and people too. If you see or experience something horrible, you need a record burned in so you avoid it next time. If someone betrays you or something seriously hurts you or a loved one, you need a record to not trust the person, or to save yourself next time.
Our body systems (including brain and emotions) are finely crafted for 2 goals: Not dying, while having as much sex as possible. Remembering mundane things or a cute dog you saw isn’t going to help those goals. Remembering a pile of meat festering in an alley behind the butcher IS helpful, since you might not walk down that alley next time and avoid disease.
Latest Answers