Psych Learning and Memory

Everyday Memory Failures

Frustrations and Concerns

Introduction

Memory loss is a commonly occurring issue in everyday life, as many individuals around us suffer from this problem. Sometimes it may not cost much, for instance, if a person forgets someone’s name, it can be frustrating, and in other situations embarrassing. Other times, you may feel prepared for an exam, and your ability to retrieve the information is interfered with. This kind of loss of memory can prove itself to be distressing, as one may feel some kind of incompetence; moreover, lack of worth is another factor that is associated with this ‘problem’, which cannot be fully categorized as a disease.

Memory can be defined as “the process of encoding, storing, and retrieving a piece of information”. Things, which we experience in our everyday life, are stored in our brain, with the help of brain cells called neurons. Grey cells of the brain are highly efficient in storing and recognizing different events, ideas and images. It is supposed that some kind of damage in these cells, result in memory loss (Kouyoumdjian, Plotnik, 2010, P.265).

One area of memory loss that hits close to home and one that I felt I needed to encompass into my paper, is the effects of Dementia and Alzheimer’s, to individuals and their families that suffer from this horrible disease. (Learning and Memory, W. Scott Terry, 207). It’s amazing how someone can be affected so severely and so quickly with memory loss, that is so widespread, and personal to all involved. Obvious frustration to the person inflicted in the beginning, and later frustration to the families dealing with a loved one inflicted. Not knowing how to get home, or forgetting who their family member is, is tough on everyone involved, and in the later stages, it is truly patience and understanding and love that helps get through this. At some point, they almost don’t know you exist, at least not how you are today. I went through this on a small level with...