Childhood Memory
In my boredom today, I was doing a little internet research on childhood memory. I’m not sure what made me think of it, but it’s always been interesting to me. The classic, long-accepted belief about childhood memory is that people are really incapable of remembering things from before the age of 4 or 5. Many of us know this is BS, since we personally can disprove it. However, what accounts for early childhood memory?
Some people believe that it is verbal ability. As you gain more language, you are better able to think and remember things in words. This applies pretty well to ultra-verbal people like me, but I don’t think early memory is limited to those of us who think in words.
Another theory, which I just came across, is that early childhood memory is associated with a sense of the self as being separate. So once we can identify “me,” we can think about what happens to us. This typically occurs around 18 months of age, though it is later for many people. I tend to subscribe to this theory myself, but I think that mostly has to do with the content of my first memory.
I remember my grandma holding me on her hip while my parents climbed up a cliff toward us. For a long time, I thought I must not have that right, since it seems to be a very strange situation. However, I asked my mom about it one time, and she said that she and my dad had been into rock-climbing when I was little and had climbed on the Ledges in Grand Ledge (where my grandparents lived). This event did actually occur, and it happened when I as about 18 months old.
I think this makes a lot of sense in terms of the second theory. The memory is basically about seeing myself as separate from my parents, and it even happened at the time when this ability is supposed to develop.
Probably memory is a mixture of things. I’m sure verbal ability has something to do with it, since rehearsing a memory is what keeps it fresh. But this theory about sense of self seems very interesting.
So to the reader(s): what is your first memory? What do you think is responsible for early memory?
Samantha Tengelitsch said,
August 30, 2006 at 5:31 am
I believe in cellular memory, so I think we can go back through our lineage in some ways.
My “first memory” was standing in my crib and not being all that sure about my parents. I had evidentally been crying and I remember them openeing the door and the bright lights coming in from the hall. I was probably about 9 months old. I also remember being about 18 mos and sitting with a poopy diaper on a rocking horse.
While auditing with Erick, I recalled my birth. Mostly sensation, but some visiual as well. The sensation of being pulled on was strong.
lemony said,
August 30, 2006 at 11:10 am
Mine was walking around in some little red bottomed pajamas at christmas time, and eating some kind of crunchy thing by the christmas tree, reaching over to try to get the cat who was drinking water out of the stand under it at the time, and the tree almost coming down on me and being really scared. I think I was between one and two, because Megan wasn’t around yet, but I don’t remember what house it was at.
In regards to early memory, I think some of it has to do with strong emotional responses to situations, but I could be wrong. It sure seems that way later in life though.
Also, what do you think about children’s gut reactions to meeting new people? Do you think they have a good sort of “radar” ? I always wonder this when someone tries to pass around a new baby, and they are fine until a certain person tries to hold them- Does the baby know when a person is bad, or scared, or unsure? Or is it just a matter of “Give me back to my parent who knows where the food is and takes care of my diapers!” kind of a feeling after a while… or do certain people actually make them feel unsafe?
Samantha Tengelitsch said,
August 30, 2006 at 11:30 am
I think it could be all of those things, Mel. The baby might just get tired of being handed all around, or something in the facial features may be new and frightening (dark glasses, mustache, if unfamiliar). I think a baby can tell if the person holding them is uncomfortable, but I don’t know if there is evidence to support this, just my observations.
They’re like puppies!
lemony said,
September 8, 2006 at 7:48 am
Wow, this was a catalyst for a really interesting conversation with my mom. We usually have a hard time communicating, especially about the time before my parents divorced, but I brought this up while she was talking about my sister’s current pregnancy, and we talked for about 3 hours! Thanks Kate
magnus said,
September 8, 2006 at 8:30 am
My first memory is toddling out to my dad in the garden (I can remember the squeaky sound of my diaper) and getting caught in a spider web between two tomato cages. I had to close my eyes because of the sticky web covering my face, and when I tried to brush it off with my stubby little arms and hands it wouldn’t come off. That’s when I started crying and my dad came over to rescue me. It was tramatic, and I still blame an irrational fear of spiders and spider webs on that to this day.
I would have to agree with Mel that I think strong emotional responses trigger early memories. In that light, Kate’s memory could have been triggered because she was worried about being away from her parents and wanted to be back with them.
Kate said,
September 8, 2006 at 9:34 am
I’m so glad this sparked a conversation between you and your mom, Mel! How great!
Agreed that strong emotional triggers make a memory more powerful. I don’t remember being worried in my memory, though. It’s more that I was surprised to see my parents coming up over the cliff.