Repression Essays (717 words) - Freudian Psychology,

Repression When forming a memory, the brain takes what we see, hear, smell, feel, and or taste, and fills in the blank spots with information that we have perceived from common knowledge and stores it as a memory. But sometimes something happens that is so shocking that the mind grabs hold of the memory and pushes it underground, into some inaccessible corner of the unconscious. There it sleeps for years, or even decades, or even forever- isolated from the rest of mental life. Then, one day it may rise up and emerge into consciousness. When the unconscious tucks away a memory, to hopefully be forgotten, it is called Repression. Repression is a defense mechanism derived from Sigmund Freud near the beginning of the century (Gay 18-19). But if a person cannot recall a memory, was it ever really a memory? Did it ever really happen? If so, can the conscious be manipulated and made to think that, through controversial methods such as hypnosis or a truth serum called sodium pentathol, a false event actually happened? (Accused) And if these false events are believed, then can the manipulated mind be used in court cases to sue the people who caused the traumatic experience? When Freud discovered the idea behind repressed memories he then had to come up with a way to recover then. A process known as psychoanalysis was formed. The theory of repression and recovery became a corner stone to understanding some of our own neurosis (Gay 18-19). When Freud began to use this method frequently, he did not know what psychologists would do with the theory today, nor did he realize that people would ever use this as a method of fraud. In 1990 a case went to trial against a man accused of murder 20 years earlier. He was accused of killing his daughters` best friend. The daughter, now an adult, began to remember slowly events that occurred and pieced together enough information to convict her father. He was the first man to ever go to trial and be convicted of murder of the grounds of a recovered memory (repressed memories). In this particular case, was the daughter beginning to remember these events before she began therapy or was this such a traumatic event that in order to settle it within her own mind, she had to come up with her own solution? When a memory becomes locked away, it can be permanent or temporary depending on the severity of the traumatic experience. Through psychoanalysis, the memory can be brought back. The process is a detailed inquiry of the persons past and past relations and events, which are recorded and analyzed. (Gay 479) Through this process, the psychologist then can determine whether or not there is more there to be brought out. This is where hypnosis and other controversial methods can come into play. When you are under hypnosis, you are completely vulnerable and susceptible to influence. Memories can then be implanted by use of descriptive details, inserted characters and fictitious plot elaboration. (Accused) There are also three ways in which memory can be affected: when it is stored, while it is being stored and when it is retrieved. During each of these times something could be misunderstood, or implanted. Psychologists are not the only influences our brain has. Recollections of horror movies, comic books, nightmares, anything on TV are liable to get garbled in our memories and tossed around to confuse us. Possibilities of retrieval of lost memories are plentiful. Memories of these things can come out in the hypnosis therapy and therapists think it to be true and valid information. But not only is it up to the techniques reliability, but it is also up to the mind and soul of the person to distinguish these other influences and recapture the true event. Knowing that evidence exists that memories can be implanted and that the mind is so easily mislead, it makes you wonder about your own past. It makes you almost want to remember things that your not even sure existed. It also makes you wonder why people would want to dredge up memories if they are not real. There is no easy answer or explanation to the theory of repression and retrieval, but until psychologists can drag our unconsciousness into the light, retrieval of repressed memories will be left in the dark. Bibliography Accused-False Memory Syndrome. http://www.accused.com/contents/overview/fms.html* (9 Sept. 1998) Freud, Sigmund. The Freud Reader. ed. Peter Gay. London: Yale University. 1995. Repressed Memories. http://www.psy.flinders.edu.au/webpages/learning/ktmgcc/page2.html* (9 Sept. 1998)

How to Use the Best Essay Sample For the TH Grade Scholarship Essay Contest

How to Use the Best Essay Sample For the TH Grade Scholarship Essay ContestTeenagers who are preparing for the IB or TH Grade School Scholarship Essay Contest are often confused about which of the hundreds of essay samples are the best. There are many different strategies that can be used to get a winning essay that is appealing to the judges. It is important to use the best strategy to win the scholarship.The best essay samples always include a detailed explanation of the student's educational background. Students who write a lengthy essay are considered weak. Most schools will have specific guidelines for their essays and the parents should adhere to these guidelines.The best essay sample for the TH Grade Scholarship Essay Contest is one that uses vivid examples. It is always best to give a brief description of the subject you will cover and how it applies to the student's situation. The reason why it is important to use examples is because it will get students to think about their own situation.Examples should also include using both text and pictures to make the essay more interesting. Some students can only picture themselves in the shoes of others, but the examples should take them down that particular path and make them think about their own feet. The essay must look like it could be written by any student in the world.Another important key to winning a scholarship is to utilize different writing styles. There are a variety of techniques to make the essay come across more easily. Many times writing a writer will turn to articles and journal entries for inspiration.The best essay samples usually do not rely on creative writing or anything else that is unique. They will also not use long paragraphs or boring lines to create drama. Instead, the best samples use short and simple sentences.Teenagers can also use the best essay samples as outlines for their essays. Some examples can be turned into outlines and used for practice essays. It is always best to be consistent with your outline so that it comes across as if you wrote it yourself.Teenagers who are writing for scholarship essays can also benefit from a few of the best essay samples. The best ones will contain information about their circumstances that makes them unique. This is important in the competition and the student's reputation is always being judged.