Memory is a tricky thing. We may believe whole-heartedly that we remember the details of an important evening or event. We may be mistaking. Author Vivian McCann Hamilton (2007) shares, an example by Holmberg and Holmes that supports this theory, Married couples, for example were surveyed just after marriage, and then again after two years. At the two-year mark, couples whose marriages were going well remembered being very happy as newlyweds. Couples who were experiencing marital difficulties after two years, remembered having problems even as newlyweds. In reality, though both groups of couples- happy and unhappy- had reported great happiness as newlyweds; the unhappy ones just didn’t remember it that way (Holmberg & Holmes, 1994). (p.174).
Personally, I have had my fair share of memory mishaps with friends. Although we both were at the same events we perceive what happened differently. My best friend Brooke and I went to a house party last year around this time. Brooke became extremely intoxicated quickly so we went outside of the house to get some fresh air. These events we can agree on, the following differs depending on who is telling the story. Brooke vomited. I told her to stay
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We will never know whose memory was correct, even though I’m pretty sure mine is! Alcohol also affected memory in this case, but I believe perception also had a big influence. Hamilton (2007) defines, “Rosy retrospection: our tendency to forget minor annoyances and remember pleasures and positive experiences more vividly overtime,” (p. 174), played a role in our memory differences. Brooke forgot that she became ill and didn’t believe that I told her that getting a ride home from a stranger was a bad idea. She forgot the minor annoyances or disagreements we had that night and focused on the fact that I came and got