Forgetting & Mistakes

Understanding why we forget and make mistakes

Topics

How does stress affect memory?

Stress affects memory by impairing encoding and retrieval, enhancing emotional memories, causing memory consolidation problems, and reducing working memory capacity through cortisol and adrenaline effects.

How to learn from mistakes?

To learn from mistakes, acknowledge errors without self-blame, analyze what went wrong, identify lessons, adjust your approach, and apply new strategies to prevent similar mistakes.

Why do we forget?

We forget due to decay over time, interference from other memories, retrieval failure, lack of consolidation, motivated forgetting, or because forgetting serves adaptive functions like focusing on important information.

Why do we make mistakes?

We make mistakes due to cognitive limitations, lack of knowledge, attention lapses, stress, overconfidence, and the complexity of tasks exceeding our current abilities.

Why do we remember some things better?

We remember some things better due to emotional significance, repetition, personal relevance, distinctiveness, and the way information was encoded, making certain memories more accessible than others.