what is exactly is a selective memory?

[piggynose]

i used to think it meant somebody withholding information, not telling the truth, conveniently forgetting things. but it isn´t is it?

[dothawkes31]

lol it might be

[craft1948]

my nan used to have selective hearing...........

[piggynose]

hi craft, thats what i´ve got, no joke

[jno]

http://en.wikipedia.o...Selective_memory_loss

[craft1948]

My nan used to want to watch the tele and not talk so she pretended to be deaf. So one night I started talking really quietly to my sister calling my nan all the names under the sun. Everyone (except me) was gobsmacked when she shouted "I can hear you, you cheeky young bugger"

[piggynose]

thanx jno

[Captin Kirk]

my wife claims I have one ... thou I can't remember for sure

[welshlibranr]

My husband has one for sure!......I've said so for years!..............lol, it's when you remember only what you wish to! He also has selective hearing!............he only hears what he wants to!.......................

[Captin Kirk]

^^^ same thing only easier to prove lol ...

[piggynose]

if you look at the link jno posted, this discredits popular beleif that its a selfish action, eg only wanting to remember or hear what you want to remember or hear.

[Androcles]

As well as physical causes, may it not also have mental causes? Think of people who have been involved in a traumatic event who have selective memories of what happened, or even no memory at all.

Sometimes people will seect the good bits from a situation and remember those, especially if there are some nasty bits as well.

[ChocolatChip]

On a more serious note compared to most of these, yes it's true and possible. My fiance has epilepsy, and has completely forgotten his parents ever existed. He doesn't know they're names, where they live, or anything about them.
He has also forgotten that he was sacked from his old job, and where he works now (due to having some serious seizures there it is believed)
It is not a funny situation, its a dire thing, and I give anything to have my partner back as normal.

[piggynose]

i grew up beleiving for years my dad was a liar!! he wud confound my mom with forgetting important things, then remembering daft things. it was only when they divorced did i realise that he basically had no control over his memory. i´m not sure if my mom ever knew. I´ve had the same problem myself for several years. so often get called or accused of being a liar!!. then when i do rememeber its too late, your accused of lieing again.