Memory Distrust Syndrome is a condition loosely termed by Gísli Guðjónsson and James MacKeith in 1982, in which an individual doubts the accuracy of their Memory concerning the content and context of events of which they have experienced. Since the individual does not trust their own memory, they will commonly depend on outside sources of information rather then using their ability for recollection. Some believe that this may be a defense or coping mechanism to a preexisting faulty memory state such as Alzheimer's disease, Amnesia, or possibly Dementia.
It is generally considered to be related to Source amnesia, which involves the inability to recall the basis for factual knowledge. The main difference between the two is that source amnesia is lack of knowing the basis of knowledge, whereas memory distrust syndrome is a lack of believing the knowledge that exists. The fact that an individual lacks the trust in their own memory implies that the individual would have a reason or belief that would prevent them from the trust that most of us have in our recollections. Cases concerning memory distrust syndrome have led to documented false confessions in court cases.
Read more about Memory Distrust Syndrome: Squire Subjective Memory Questionnaire, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Gudjonsson Compliance Scale, Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale
Famous quotes containing the words memory, distrust and/or syndrome:
“I don’t avoid pain by not remembering something; I try to remember.... Memory is empowering, and it’s what gives you your sense of continuity in the world.”
—Melinda Worth Popham (b. 1944)
“The Germans—once they were called the nation of thinkers: do they still think at all? Nowadays the Germans are bored with intellect, the Germans distrust intellect, politics devours all seriousness for really intellectual things—Deutschland, Deutschland Über alles was, I fear, the end of German philosophy.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“[T]he syndrome known as life is too diffuse to admit of palliation. For every symptom that is eased, another is made worse. The horse leech’s daughter is a closed system. Her quantum of wantum cannot vary.”
—Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)