Why is it hard to remember our childhood?

Question

Why cant I remember my daily life from birth?
I have had the same brain and body since then. I have learned a lot. But why dont we keep those memories from childhood? I try so hard to remember, I look at old photos, but nothing.
Is this natural?
Is there a name for it?
Is there a way to remember?

Answer 1

I think you can't remember your life beginning from birth because the brain is not developed enough to have or retrieve the memories. I haven't studied into memory, but I did study some of the development of skills at an early age. For instance, gross motor skills like walking develop before fine motor skills like writing. From that, it makes sense that we would start remembering when we are physically or mentally capable of it.
I have heard of regression as a means of remembering memories that are not consciously available. It think it involves hypnosis or something. I don't know much about it or if it has any validity, but if you google regression or hypnosis you might find some relevant sites.
It's natural as far as I can see. Well, it may depend on how far back you can't remember. Sometimes the human mind has a way of blocking out things that were traumatic. I think that's one of Frued's concepts. I don't know when the average person starts to form memories. I remember a couple things in preschool, from about 4 years old, but nothing before.
Memory is a tricky thing, too, at least from the few things I've read. In my intro to psych class, I read about Alfred Adler's experience with a 'made-up' memory. The story goes that Adler had a nanny who wanted attention. To get attention, the nanny made up a story that involved someone trying to kidnap Adler as an infant or toddler. Adler recounted the story, as he 'remembered,' it for years until the nanny confessed that she made it all up. Supposedly, he 'remembered' the incident because he had heard the story numerous times. Is it true? Would my college text lie? That's for you to decide.
Unless you think you're missing something (like a memory of a traumatic experience that needs to be remembered to be dealt with), I wouldn't worry about it. If you are missing something, you might want to talk to someone before you try.

Answer 2

You need more than a photo then to remember. Try going back to some of the old places, smelling play-doh (or whatever you played with) you are sure to remember something, memories can be sensory and not just in photos. If you don't remember ANYTHING, maybe you had a traumatic incident that you blocked out that is clouding all of the good memories - think back.....?

Answer 3

i have no problems. it all depends on what side of your brain you think with. i think in pictures, and i can remember way, way back.

at birth, you don't start cataloging events, since your just getting the basics down. and you record information in different ways.

same brain, but different storage method with different priorities. you can remember those things, but you have to meditate, or take a drug to induce that state. you also might be blocking something out. you can try hypnosis, it might work if you believe in it. you can also try smelling things, often that invokes deep memories.

Answer 4

I believe it's called childhood amnesia, which makes sense sense amnesia is the inability to remember things caused by some event. Heres' some info to get you started.:) Interesting topic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childhood_amnesia

Answer 5

I remember mine. In fact there is alot of things I wish I could forget.

Answer 6

I remember my childhood.

Answer 7

Maybe you are an extroveted person