The role of the memory

Last week I spoke about identity in terms of the internet, today however I would like to speak about identity in terms of the self. This concept of the self has often been broken down into three separate segments. The material self can be said to be one's own body, family and possessions; the social self relates to the views others hold of the individual; and the spiritual self refers to the individual's emotions and desires.

A child learns that it has a body self through understanding that their own body is one of a larger set of human bodies. The role of the mirror is often linked to this notion of understanding one's own self. It is through this that one can begin to realise that they are a different entity to anybody else.

Within this blog, I would like to pay particular attention to the role of the memory. When you think back to your earliest memories, they are usually visual memories that can be remembered only as fragments which we may try and put into some kind of logical order. It is also common for these memories to be in relation to colours. More often that not, they will be memories of fun, pain or embarrassment and will usually be in relation to another person.

When I think back to when I was a young child, all of these ideas seem to fit. Some of my earliest memories go back to when I was three years old. I remember fragments of the day I was a flower girl at a family friend's wedding. I remember watching the bride getting ready, following my mum outside in her red dress, seeing my aunty sitting at a table at the reception with her blue bridesmaid's dress that had a big blue bow on the back and playing with the streamers that had been wrapped around the bride and groom.

These are all I remember from that day, everything that occurred in between these events I will only know through looking at photos, videos or hearing first person accounts from people that were present on the day. Additionally, these secondary sources can certify that any or all these events actually took place. Although I believe that I do remember these events, it is hard to know for certain if this is really the case or if I am simply remembering what I have seen in photos or videos.

Articles relating to this topic:

Patricia J. Bauer, Leif Stennes, Jennifer C. Haight. Representation of the inner self in autobiography: Women's and men's use of internal states language in personal narratives. Taylor and Francis Group. (2003) 11:1. University of Minesota: USA. pp: 27-42.

Epstein, Seymour. The Self Concept Revisited: or a theory of a theory. American Psychologist. (1973) 28. University of Massachusetts. pp: 404-414.