Selective Amnesia in Literature & Literary Theory

Selective Amnesia: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Selective amnesia refers to a psychological phenomenon characterized by the partial or complete loss of memory for specific events, usually traumatic or distressing ones, while other memories remain intact. The term “selective” implies a deliberate or subconscious filtering of memories, often as a coping mechanism to protect oneself from emotional pain or discomfort. This concept draws from the broader understanding of amnesia, which involves the inability to recall past experiences, but adds the element of selectivity in memory retrieval. Selective amnesia can manifest in various contexts, including personal relationships, historical narratives, and societal perceptions, shaping individuals’ identities and collective understandings of the past.

Meanings and Concept:

• Deliberate Forgetting: Selective amnesia may involve consciously choosing to forget certain events or aspects of one’s past.
• Psychological Defense Mechanism: It serves as a defense mechanism to shield oneself from painful or traumatic memories, allowing individuals to cope with distressing experiences.
• Distortion of Reality: Selective amnesia can lead to a distorted perception of reality, as individuals selectively recall memories that align with their desired narrative or self-image.
• Impact on Relationships: In interpersonal relationships, selective amnesia may result in the suppression of negative memories while preserving positive ones, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with others.
• Historical Revisionism: At a societal level, selective amnesia can contribute to historical revisionism, where certain events are downplayed or omitted from collective memory to suit political, cultural, or ideological agendas.
• Ethical Considerations: The ethical implications of selective amnesia raise questions about authenticity, accountability, and the construction of personal and collective identities based on selective recollection.

Selective Amnesia: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Selective amnesia refers to the psychological phenomenon wherein individuals consciously or subconsciously suppress memories of specific events, often traumatic or distressing ones, while retaining memory of other experiences. This selective forgetting may serve as a coping mechanism to shield oneself from emotional pain or discomfort associated with the suppressed memories. The term highlights the intentional or subconscious filtering of memories, influencing individuals’ perceptions of the past and shaping their present behaviors and emotions.

Selective Amnesia: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

I. Sigmund Freud

• Works:
  • Studies on Hysteria (1895, with Josef Breuer)
  • The Interpretation of Dreams (1899)
  • The Psychopathology of Everyday Life (1901)
• Arguments:
  • Repression: Freud theorized that traumatic or emotionally overwhelming experiences could be unconsciously pushed out of awareness, leading to gaps in memory. This defense mechanism protects the ego from unbearable emotional pain.
  • The Unconscious: Selective amnesia is seen as a symptom of an active unconscious mind, where repressed memories continue to influence behavior even if not consciously accessible.

II. Pierre Janet

• Works:
  • L’Automatisme Psychologique (1889)
  • The Major Symptoms of Hysteria (1907)
• Arguments:
  • Dissociation: Janet proposed that traumatic experiences can overwhelm the mind’s capacity to process them, leading to a dissociation or splitting of consciousness. This split creates islands of memory that are inaccessible to normal recall.
  • Trauma and Memory: Janet viewed dissociative amnesia as a direct consequence of traumatic experiences and the mind’s attempt to cope.

III. Elizabeth Loftus

• Works:
  • Memory: Surprising New Insights Into How We Remember and Why We Forget (1980)
  • Eyewitness Testimony (1979)
• Arguments:
  • Memory Malleability: Loftus argued that memories are not fixed records of the past but can be reconstructed and influenced by suggestion, misinformation, and even imagination.
  • False Memories: Her research demonstrated that it’s possible to implant false memories through leading questions and other suggestive techniques, raising questions about the reliability of eyewitness accounts and recovered memories.

IV. Modern Cognitive Neuroscience Approaches

• Works: Research published in journals like Neuropsychologia, Journal of Neuroscience, Psychological Bulletin
• Arguments:
  • Brain Mechanisms: Research uses brain imaging techniques (fMRI, PET) to identify neural networks involved in memory encoding, retrieval, and suppression. Studies suggest that areas like the hippocampus and amygdala play crucial roles in selective amnesia.
  • The Role of Stress Hormones: High levels of stress hormones (like cortisol) during trauma can disrupt normal memory consolidation processes, leading to fragmented or incomplete memories of the event.

Important Considerations:

• Debate: There’s ongoing debate about whether selective amnesia primarily reflects psychological defense mechanisms (repression) or biological/neurological disruptions due to trauma.
• False Memories vs. Repressed Memories: Distinguishing between genuine repressed memories and false memories is a significant challenge in research and clinical practice.

Selective Amnesia: Major Characteristics

• Conscious or Subconscious Suppression: Selective amnesia involves the deliberate or unconscious suppression of memories, particularly those associated with traumatic or distressing events, while retaining memory of other experiences.
  • Literary Reference: In “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist Holden Caulfield exhibits selective amnesia regarding certain traumatic events, such as the death of his brother Allie.
• Coping Mechanism: It serves as a coping mechanism to protect oneself from emotional pain or discomfort associated with the suppressed memories, allowing individuals to function in their daily lives.
  • Literary Reference: In “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold, the protagonist Susie Salmon exhibits selective amnesia as a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of her murder.
• Intentional or Subconscious Filtering: The process involves intentional or subconscious filtering of memories, where certain events are consciously or unconsciously omitted or distorted.
  • Literary Reference: In “1984” by George Orwell, the protagonist Winston Smith experiences selective amnesia as a result of the Party’s manipulation of historical records and memories.
• Impact on Perception of Reality: Selective amnesia can lead to a distorted perception of reality, as individuals selectively recall memories that align with their desired narrative or self-image.
  • Literary Reference: In “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, the protagonist Dorian Gray experiences selective amnesia regarding his own wrongdoing, leading to a distorted perception of himself and the world around him.
• Influence on Present Behaviors and Emotions: The phenomenon influences individuals’ present behaviors and emotions, as their perception of the past shapes their current attitudes and actions.
  • Literary Reference: In “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator exhibits selective amnesia regarding his murder of an old man, but his guilt manifests in erratic behaviors and heightened paranoia.

Selective Amnesia: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Selective Amnesia	Example
Psychoanalytic/Freudian	Unconscious desires, repression, and trauma influence the characters’ actions and the narrative structure.	A character unable to confront a traumatic past event that subconsciously shapes their present behavior.
Reader-Response	Gaps in memory become spaces for reader interpretation; exploring how incomplete information colors their understanding of characters and plot.	A first-person narrative with unreliable memories forces the reader to piece together the ‘truth’.
Feminist	Amnesia can represent the silencing of female voices, exploring themes of power, agency, and the recovery of lost histories.	A female character struggling to reclaim memories of an assault or abuse.
Postcolonial	Selective amnesia can be used to address collective and historical trauma, exploring how nations or cultures suppress uncomfortable parts of their past.	A novel tracing the fragmented memories of a nation attempting to come to terms with a colonial legacy.
Narratology	Amnesia disrupts traditional storytelling, creating unreliable narrators, nonlinear timelines, and a sense of mystery or suspense.	A story told in reverse chronological order, with the character gradually recovering lost memories.

Important Notes:

• Overlapping theories: These are not mutually exclusive categories; multiple theories often work together in literary analysis of selective amnesia.
• Symbolism: Selective amnesia often operates as a powerful symbol within literature, representing broader themes of loss, identity, suppressed truth, and societal memory manipulation.

Selective Amnesia: Application in Critiques

Fiction Critiques:

• Character Development: Critics may analyze how authors use selective amnesia as a narrative device to develop characters. This could involve exploring how suppressed memories shape characters’ identities, motivations, and relationships throughout the story.
  • Example: In “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, selective amnesia is employed to characterize Jay Gatsby, whose idealized memories of his past with Daisy Buchanan drive his actions and ultimately lead to his downfall.
• Narrative Structure: Critics may examine how selective amnesia contributes to the overall structure of the narrative. This could involve analyzing the use of flashbacks, unreliable narration, and fragmented memories to create suspense, tension, or thematic depth.
  • Example: In “Memento” by Christopher Nolan (adapted into a film), selective amnesia is central to the narrative structure, as the protagonist’s inability to form new memories leads to a non-linear storytelling technique that mirrors his fragmented understanding of reality.

Non-Fiction Critiques:

• Historical Interpretation: Critics may assess how selective amnesia influences the presentation and interpretation of historical events in non-fiction works. This could involve examining how authors selectively emphasize or omit certain facts and perspectives to shape readers’ understanding of the past.
  • Example: In “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn, selective amnesia is critiqued for challenging mainstream historical narratives by highlighting marginalized voices and forgotten events that have been suppressed or ignored in traditional accounts.
• Memoir and Autobiography: Critics may analyze how selective amnesia operates in memoirs and autobiographies, particularly regarding the author’s subjective portrayal of their own experiences. This could involve questioning the reliability of memory and the extent to which authors consciously or unconsciously shape their narratives.
  • Example: In “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls, critics have debated the role of selective amnesia in Walls’ portrayal of her tumultuous childhood, questioning the accuracy and authenticity of her memories as a means of self-preservation and storytelling.

Selective Amnesia: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Dissociative Amnesia	A type of amnesia characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, usually related to trauma or stress.
Retrograde Amnesia	Loss of memory for events that occurred before a traumatic event or the onset of amnesia.
Anterograde Amnesia	Inability to form new long-term memories after a traumatic event or the onset of amnesia.
Repression	A psychological defense mechanism in which distressing memories are unconsciously blocked from conscious awareness (Freudian concept).
Dissociation	Mental detachment from one’s thoughts, feelings, and sense of self, often as a coping mechanism for trauma.
Trauma	A deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can be physical, emotional, or psychological.
Fugue State	A rare type of dissociative amnesia where an individual forgets their identity and may travel away from home, often creating a new life.
False Memory	A fabricated or distorted recollection of an event that did not actually occur.
Confabulation	Unintentional creation of false memories to fill in gaps in memory, often seen in amnesia patients.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)	A mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, often involving flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive memories related to the trauma.

Selective Amnesia: Suggested Readings

1. Applebaum, Anne. Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-1956. New York: Doubleday, 2012.
2. Foer, Jonathan Safran. Everything is Illuminated. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
3. Haley, Alex. Roots: The Saga of an American Family. New York: Doubleday, 1976.
4. Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York: Knopf, 1987.
5. Ondaatje, Michael. The English Patient. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1992.
6. Ozick, Cynthia. The Shawl. New York: Knopf, 1983.
7. Spiegelman, Art. Maus. New York: Pantheon Books, 1986-1991.
8. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. New York: Putnam’s, 1989.
9. Whitehead, Colson. The Underground Railroad. New York: Doubleday, 2016.
10. Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. New York: Knopf, 2005.