Is there a real "I" or is it just an illusion

We have all the time we want to be loved and accepted for who we are. But what are we? It is assumed that there is some real "I", but how to determine what is it?

Our personality is formed under the influence of life experience, which can always be accessed through the memories. It confirmsAutobiographical memory: Exploring its functions in everyday life the science. People with profound forms of amnesia, along with memory and lose their identity.

We could define their personalityIf memories were something permanent and unchangeable. Although we believe that the way it is, in fact, pieces of the past in our minds all the time and adapt to the changing needs of man.

As we filter memories

When a person tells a story from the past, it does not use all available memory. Instead, it relies on the psychological mechanism of selection - the filtration system, which selects that recognize memories. Most often, they are vivid and emotionally charged episodes.

Then, these episodes are checked for authenticity in the same filtration system. For example, if a person remembers in detail how to fly through the air, the system recognizes that it can not be true, the memory is marked as a fantasy.

Another stage of filtration - checking for compliance with the memories of a general notion about themselves. Let's assume that you have always been a very good man, but after the stressful experience of steel aggressive. From this will change not only your behavior, but also a personal story. Now, if you are asked to describe yourself, you will be included in the narrative details that previously remained behind the scenes. For example, you will have stories about those moments when you showed aggression.

And this is only half the problem. Even the carefully selected and suitable memories to us on which we rely, may be completely false.

We often cherish the memory of events that never occurred.

Why is our memory is full of false stories

Brain scans showedThe functional neuroanatomy of autobiographical memory: A meta-analysisThat personal memories are not located in one of his department and the entire network of multiple interconnected sites. Part of the network - the frontal lobes - is responsible for the processing of information, screening out unsuitable elements and fit under the representation of the person about himself. If the event is inappropriate or unimportant, memory drops or modifies it, the information is added or removed.

Memory is very malleable, it is easy to change Changing beliefs and memories through dream interpretation . With the help of the imagination, we can createImagination can create false autobiographical memories. detailed and emotional autobiographical memories. They are bright and vibrant, but it is completely fictional.

science knowsNonbelieved memories many cases of false memories, and they are perceived as real. Scientists have created a specialCreating Non-Believed Memories for Recent Autobiographical Events false memories in the laboratory: using fake video to convince the participants of the study that they committed certain acts.

When people are told that memories are created artificially, they stopped believing memory, but still felt that it was.

If our memories are carefully filtered, then what defines our identity and how to know what we really are: brave or cowardly, sacrificial or selfish? Make it certainly will not help neither the psychological test, because it is you answer his questions, determining the quality of his personality.

The best way to figure out whether there was something in reality - ask other people if they remember that. In other words, to find witnesses. The same can be done with your personality.

How to amend the vision of himself

find the most loved onesWho spend a lot of time with you and see how you act in different situations. The main thing is that they give the impression you are not from your words and stories, but from that experienced with you.

Let them pass a psychological questionnaire, providing that they are responsible for you. you can use this test on character strengths (when registering indicate Russian language - all the questions and the results are in Russian).

Keep in mind that other people do not necessarily correct. But if all agree about some qualities that you yourself do not notice, it will be a good occasion to review the self-image.

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