Ned's parents got divorced when he was 7 years old. Ned's older sister vividly remembers the frequent, loud screaming matches between her mother and father in the weeks prior to the divorce, but Ned claims that he has no memories of his parents ever fighting. If Ned has unconsciously blocked awareness of those painful memories, it would be an example of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Repression involves the unconscious blocking of painful memories or impulses to protect oneself from psychological harm. Ned's lack of memory of his parents' fights could be an example of repression. Suppression, proactive interference, and memory decay do not involve unconscious mental processes.

Ned's Parents Got Divorced When He Was 7 Years Old