Question

(8.1 Can memories be recovered - are there false memories - Can there truly be multiple personalities?

Answer 1

Memories can be recovered when they are repressed. Repression of memories are caused due to stressful or traumatic events. These memories slowly with the passage of time come into consciousness. Recall of these memories can be done with the help of right retrieval cues.

There are false memories. False memories can be experienced by anyone and for a brief peiod of time in their lives. This is normal. When a false memory like a traumatic one intrudes with one's day to day activites and an individual is having difficulty to live a normal life then it is known as false memory syndrome.

In psychological terms multiple personality is now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. In this disorder an individual may experience more than one personality or identy which takes control one at a time. Person with Dissociative Identity disorder may experience memory gaps.