Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
09:00
Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
4.6K
Children's Forgetting of Pain-Related Memories
Tammy A Marche1, Jennifer L Briere2, Carl L von Baeyer2
1Department of Psychology, Arts, and Science, University of Saskatchewan tmarche@stmcollege.ca.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|December 16, 2015
Summary
Children can forget negative aspects of painful events by recalling positive details. Lower self-efficacy to cope with pain was linked to less forgetting and more anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Pediatric Pain Research
- Memory Studies
Background:
- Forgetting negative experiences can aid coping mechanisms in children.
- Understanding memory's role in pediatric pain management is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate children's ability to forget negative aspects of painful events.
- To explore the relationship between memory, self-efficacy, and pain experience in children.
Main Methods:
- A retrieval-induced forgetting task was employed with 86 children (aged 7-15).
- Participants repeatedly recalled positive details of a past painful experience.
- An experimental pain task (cold-pressor) assessed pain response.
Main Results:
- Recalling positive details led to forgetting negative aspects of prior pain.
- Pain-related self-efficacy predicted the degree of forgetting; lower efficacy meant less forgetting.
- Difficulty forgetting negative experiences correlated with increased anxiety and higher pain thresholds.
Conclusions:
- Memory processes, specifically forgetting, influence children's pain coping.
- Targeting memory for painful events may enhance pain management strategies in pediatric populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Forgetting
498
Forgetting is an intrinsic aspect of human memory, characterized by the gradual loss or inaccessibility of information over time. Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneering psychologist, extensively studied this phenomenon and formulated the forgetting curve. This curve illustrates that memory loss occurs rapidly immediately after learning and then decelerates over time. Several mechanisms contribute to forgetting, including encoding failure, storage decay, retrieval failure, and interference.
Encoding...
Encoding...
498
01:16Repressed Memory
600
Repressed memories are a psychological phenomenon where memories of traumatic events are unconsciously blocked from a person's awareness. This process occurs as a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from the emotional impact of distressing or painful experiences. For example, a person who has experienced childhood trauma may grow up with no conscious recollection of the event. In such cases, the memories are thought to be buried deep within the subconscious, inaccessible to the conscious...
600
01:24Implicit Memories
574
Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
One key aspect of implicit...
One key aspect of implicit...
574
01:16Interference and Decay
572
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
572
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
2.3K
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
2.3K
01:13Amnesia
814
Amnesia is a condition marked by long-term memory loss, which impairs the ability to recall past events or create new memories.
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
814