Would the memories be accurate?

I had a phone call from a woman whose 2 children were having a dispute about money. She wanted them to see me so that under hypnosis, they would each go back 11 years in their memories, and find out whose memory of the event or conversation was correct.

My question is - if each of them had a stake in their memory being "correct", would it be possible or even likely that each of their memories of the event or conversation from 11 years ago remain the same?

They ended up resolving the dispute by trusting the mother, but it got me curious. Any thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on April 19, 2011 at 8:46am

I have serious doubts that their memories would be accurate. Psychologists have done a number of experiments indicating that memory is extremely malleable and that false memories are easy to create.

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Permalink Reply by bruce on April 19, 2011 at 9:16am

See if you can remember what your bike looked like when you were a kid. Now imagine it in another colour. That's how close memory and imagination are; they're just too close to be reliable.

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Welch on April 19, 2011 at 9:38am

Hi Laura

Imagine as vividly as you can an experience you observed along with others say 10 or 11 years ago, now the actual facts of that experience will always be the same, however interpretations of it will be vastly different, depending upon our own thought process, values and beliefs.

Every memory we have is a result of perception, context, knowledge, belief, interpretation and then the re-interpretation over time of that memory. All based very loosely on the actual facts of the experience.

Memories are because of this an extremely unreliable mix that said it’s more the emotional content we attach to the memory than the actual experience itself that causes the emotional and behavioural manifestations that find themselves in the consulting room.

My two pence worth the other two answers in my opnion where spot on smiles Nath

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Taylor on April 19, 2011 at 10:07am

I would say that YES, their memories would be accurate, TO THEM. Their memory is their memory. You may find that they have it wrong and would remember a different version that they may agree on and then they may find that they are even further apart. My suggestion is as a parent I would find it hard to spend the money to hypnotize each of them to find a memory that they are disagreeing on. I would as it appears the mother has done is decide for them. A lot cheaper.

Let us know if you find anything out. Very interesting.

Bruce taylor

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on April 19, 2011 at 9:05pm

When it involves money in dispute...it doesn't matter if they can remember it perfectly...if the memory says they don't get any...the memory changes in a heartbeat to reflect that they do get money.

People are people.
John

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Permalink Reply by Tamera Fontenot, LMHC on April 20, 2011 at 2:50am

Confounding Confabulations Batman! Small wonder forensic hypnosis is not considered very credible-all that subjectivity! Kind of sad that a motivation for money might come between members of a tribe-glad they found another solution. Tam

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on April 20, 2011 at 2:59am

An example of how unrealiable/accurate a memory can be is comparing what you/anyone thinks was said with a recording of the event(s). Even using a dictation machine and stopping and starting after only short phrases, you can get what was said very wrong. Often, the essence will be the same, but the detail can get very altered- even after only a few minutes.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on April 20, 2011 at 4:00am

Hi Laura,

It was great meeting you in Seattle-

Without fact checking -- we have no way to know if memories are or are not accurate... It is more likely they would be subject to manipulation if it was a matter of money-as in your hypothetical quesion.

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on April 20, 2011 at 4:22am

The recalling of the facts: who, what when and where is trivial. How it happened needs to be understood, yet getting to the why is the grand solution that leads to instantaneous healing.

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on April 20, 2011 at 4:33am

Suggesting that the facts of a situation are trivial negates the issue of how it happened. You cannot get to the 'how' without the whys and wherefores.

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on April 20, 2011 at 4:37am

Here we go again. But I can handle it, Fable. I'll be nice.

Henxy, simply said, without being overly verbose, the conscious realm is trivial in comparison to the subconscious and unconscious.

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on April 20, 2011 at 4:44am

Not sure what your point is about 'go[ing] again'. Why do you find it impossible to disagree respectfully?

You are only expressing your opinion, and I am only expressing mine. There are no proven facts here because we are working with models of the mind, not anatomy.

There are also no proven facts about what solution works best. There are just our experiences. Just as I enjoy sharing mine, I enjoy learning from others'. I do not enjoy conflict for its own sake.