In Sight, Out of Mind

Can't go to a favorite restaurant without thinking about your ex?
Better plan to eat there daily. According to research, it may be
possible to push unwanted memories out of your mind—but only with
repeated practice.

Motivated by studies that found that children are more likely to
forget abuse by family members than by strangers, study author Michael
Anderson, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Oregon,
designed an experiment to find out if memory can be consciously
controlled.

In the first 15 minutes of the experiment, participants memorized a
series of 40 word pairs. Anderson then presented participants with only
one word from the pair, sometimes asking them to remember the associated
word and sometimes asking them to forget it. Published in the
journal Science, his findings show that participants who repeatedly tried
to suppress words eventually became more likely to forget them, even when
offered clues and money to remember. "People forced to encounter
reminders of unwanted memory find ways to adapt accordingly." Anderson
says. However, Anderson is careful to clarify that "the findings don't
have direct implications for forgetting trauma."

The study sheds light on the flip side of memory research, which
often focuses on how to improve recall. "There are many positive aspects
of forgetting." Anderson argues. "To be unable to push out of mind
outdated or painful information risks impairing your concentration and
your well-being."