Emotional memory and methods of its development

Memory in psychology is the accumulation of certain processes directly responsible for the storage, accumulation, and, if necessary, the reproduction of different types of information structures. Emotional memory is the accumulation and reproduction of the experienced emotional experience, which is tightly "soldered" in the psyche with the particular event that caused the emotion.

How to manage this kind of memory, develop and strengthen this ability? What are the functions of memory for feelings and emotions. Without the ability to remember a traumatic experience a person could not fully develop.

Types of memory: emotional memory

The famous psychologist P. P. Blonsky singled out four basic types of memory. The basis of the division of memory into the motor, emotional, imaginative and logical is what mental activity is more clearly expressed in the process of memorization. So, memory happens:

1. Motor - remembering movements. Riding a bike, skating, knitting - all this is possible due to the work of motor, or otherwise, motor memory.
2. Emotional - the ability to remember the feelings and emotions associated with an object, event or phenomenon.
3. Figurative - memory for images of nature, auditory or taste images, or conceptual constants, formed in the form of an abstract image.
4. Verbal and logical. Memorization of thought images, concepts embedded in words and connections between concepts. Develops when a child can already perceive abstract categories.

Memory of the verbal-logical type is the most complex and develops later than other species, thanks to volitional efforts. If logical memory is well developed, then in an adult it becomes the leader in all mental activity. Then a person can direct and control all the processes of memorization and reproduction.

As for emotional memory, it is this process that plays a key role in the formation of a socialized personality. It is impossible to make decisions about their future activities, not relying on their internal states. Without remembering the emotional state, a person would not be able to learn from his mistakes.

How emotional memory works

The work is based on the interaction of several structural elements: the actual emotions, positive or negative, feelings, thoughts and information that induce thoughts and feelings of personality. They are closely interrelated and it is impossible to separate the components in the stream of consciousness. How does remembering emotions?

The experience or phenomenon left in the psyche leaves a trace, called an engram. Emotions allow us to determine how successfully our relationships with society are developing and whether personal relationships are successful. The stronger the emotion, the brighter and more clearly the engram. Then a sudden reminder can awaken this trace in memory and "pull out" all emotions. However, the strength and quality of the newly recreated emotions is different from the primary reaction. For example, after a few years, an event that is grieving can be perceived as an amusing case. This is due to the fact that the mental evaluation of the event is already different.

In the process of memorization, the experience is generalized. This means that the stimulus that caused the experiences is eventually combined with other stimuli. From this people sometimes can not clearly recall the real cause of his fear.

Emotional and imaginative types of memory

Emotional memory in humans is closely related to the images. Due to the fact that emotions color the experiences experienced and captured samples, our brain is able to produce new images that did not exist. That is, to create art and poetry.

Images can be visual, olfactory and even taste. Emotional images are best remembered by actors and poets. It is for these people that emotional memory is always leading. And just like in any other profession, the images need to be able to manage.

How are works of art formed? The Role of Emotional Memory

People of creative professions are good at images. They need to be able to analyze and synthesize images, bring in annologies and produce new ideas. Without constant attention to these mental processes; To the accumulated emotional experience the images will be vague. Accordingly, the actor can not sufficiently brightly reproduce them on stage.

Important is the ability for each image to select a chain of similar images. All the great geniuses knew how to keep in memory a lot of such chains of emotional images, which then embodied in music or drawing. This can be learned. Another important characteristic of the emotional memory of a creative person is a low threshold of sensitivity. The lower the threshold of emotional sensitivity, the more information about the world and other people the creative person can perceive and implement.

Physiological basis of memory

The existence of emotions was confirmed by science when an area called the amygdala was discovered in the depth of the temporal lobe of the brain. This occurrence of the limbic system is responsible for the occurrence of emotions. But the vegetative changes in the body under the influence of fear, for example, is the work of the hypothalamus. The processes occurring in the limbic system have both an electrical and a biochemical nature; They affect the state of all organs and systems.

Emotions are therefore always accompanied by activation of the nervous system and changes in blood pressure.

Thanks to the work of the limbic system, a living organism develops using motivation. Behavior unconsciously or is directed to where the person receives reinforcement in the form of positive emotions, or is blocked, facing fear or pain.

All strong emotions are fixed in memory due to the formation of synaptic connections. In the formation of a memory finger, various parts of the brain participate:

• The cortex of the brain: parietal part, temporal and frontal;
• The cerebellum is responsible for remembering the movements of the body;
• Hippocampus;
• Subcortical nodes.

The connections between neurons are not established immediately. The work of chemicals such as endorphins, calcium and enkephalins is important here. These substances - neurotransmitters - are hormones that transmit impulses between neurons.

The process of memorizing consumes energy and proteins. Therefore, for good memory you need to eat well.

Development of emotional memory in children and adults

To make this type of memory better for the child, it is necessary to help him "include" more imaginative thinking, to take him to interesting places and from the very childhood to accustom him to the world of literature and theater.

In adults, one kind of memory already dominates, and the psyche is directed towards a certain type of activity. It is very difficult to change the perception and start thinking differently to an adult formed person. Nevertheless, everyone has emotional memory, and you can try to develop it better and bring it to a conscious level.

What tasks should I perform to develop this type of memory? Emotional memory is trained if every day, when reading a book, write on paper emotions that arise from the actions of one or another hero of your favorite book. Then try to analyze the hero's inner world, conflict situations between him and society. You can select for this analysis and the movie.

Functions of emotional memory

Why do we need this kind of memory for someone who is not engaged in creativity? Development of emotional memory is necessary for everyone, because a person without emotional experience is not interested in communication. In addition, such people are not able to empathize, share their sore and in fact are very lonely in their lives. So, we can distinguish several functions:

• Promotes the development of personality;
• Forms emotional intelligence;
• Helps to better navigate in society, so teachers and directors of firms are needed;
• Affects the development of creativity.

Emotional intelligence: shaping

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and control emotions. Without the development of emotional intelligence, it is impossible to lead a team successfully. This is an important quality of real leaders.

A person with a developed emotional intelligence is easy to recognize. He gets along well with people around him, because he understands both his own and other people's emotions. He is always friendly and cheerful.

Conclusion

All behavior throughout life is built on the basis of the emotional experience of the individual. The basis of the division of memory into the motor, emotional is the mental activity that is more often used by the individual.

The entire limbic system is responsible for the preservation and development of the emotional state. It includes: amygdala (tonsil), hypothalamus, mastoid, hippocampus, olfactory triangle, other structures. The memory is formed due to the synthesis of long-term connections between neurons of the brain.

Ability to creativity is, first of all, a developed figurative and emotional memory. The development of figurative memory is necessary for those who have decided to devote themselves to literary, musical or actor's creative activity.