McCarroll Christopher Jude
Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Australia.
Conscious Cogn. 2017 Mar;49:322-332. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2017.01.014. Epub 2017 Feb 24.
Jordi Fernández (2015) discusses the possible benefits of two types of allegedly distorted memories: observer memories and fabricated memories. Fernández argues that even when memory does not preserve the past, some memories can still provide an adaptive benefit for the subject. I explore Fernández's claims focussing on the case of observer perspective memories. For Fernández, observer perspectives are distorted memories because they do not preserve past experience. In contrast, I suggest that observer perspectives can accurately reflect past experience: observer perspectives are not necessarily distorted memories. By looking at the complexity of the relation between remembering trauma from an observer perspective and emotional closure, I also sound a note of caution against Fernández's assertion that observer memories of trauma can be adaptively beneficial. Finally, I suggest that because observer perspectives are not necessarily distorted, but involve a distinct way of thinking about one's past, such memories can be epistemically beneficial.
霍尔迪·费尔南德斯(2015年)探讨了两种所谓扭曲记忆的可能益处:观察者记忆和虚构记忆。费尔南德斯认为,即使记忆无法保留过去,某些记忆仍可为主体带来适应性益处。我聚焦于观察者视角记忆的案例来探究费尔南德斯的观点。对费尔南德斯而言,观察者视角是扭曲的记忆,因为它们无法保留过去的经历。相比之下,我认为观察者视角能够准确反映过去的经历:观察者视角不一定是扭曲的记忆。通过审视从观察者视角回忆创伤与情感愈合之间关系的复杂性,我也对费尔南德斯关于创伤的观察者记忆具有适应性益处的断言提出了警示。最后,我认为由于观察者视角不一定是扭曲的,而是涉及一种思考自身过去的独特方式,此类记忆在认知上可能是有益的。