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MENTAL MODEL · M2877

Motivated Forgetting

Motivated Forgetting
Learn & MetacognitionHigh supportMemory Psychology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Refers to the subconscious active suppression or modification of memories that are painful, embarrassing, or threatening to self-esteem, in order to maintain mental health or self-image.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

Examine the authenticity of memories. When we confidently say 'I never did that,' it may be that our brain has deceived us. When reviewing failures, be wary of this self-aggrandizing modification function.

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Motivated forgetting refers to the individual's subconscious repression or active suppression to block painful memories (the 'repression' mechanism in psychoanalysis) to maintain self-esteem or psychological safety. In cognitive psychology, there is also 'directed forgetting'—actively suppressing specific items. Its function is to protect self-image, but the cost is that memories are selectively modified, making it easy to self-aggrandize during review.

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Source support: Explicit

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%A8%E6%9C%BA%E6%80%A7%E9%81%97%E5%BF%98ZH · Explicit
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