How would the ability to erase bad memories affect how people interact?

Question

Apparently there is a new drug in the works that can minimize the trauma and memory associated with a bad event. Do you think that if this is used in a widespread manner, people will become more nonchalant about terrible things? Afterall, if you can take a pill and the bad memories disappear will the world somehow become an easier place to live?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070703/sc_livescience/newdrugdeletesbadmemories

Answer 1

Their reasoning ability would be unbalanced as this would give them no negative side. The trick would be to teach them how to manage the effects of the bad memories to keep negative and positive in balance. Maybe a better way to say that would be to retrain their reaction to bad memories.

Answer 2

I heard this about propranolol, which is a drug currently used to lower blood pressure. It blocks adrenaline receptors.

But yeah, it's hard to say what people will do. For me, I would choose to live with most of my bad memories, for a few reasons:
1) There are probably bad side effects to using propranolol, that are worse than just a temporary bad emotion. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are related to blood sugar control, blood pressure, kidney function, stress, and lots of other things -- you don't want to mess with it too much. It's probably not cheap either.
2) I know, logically, that there can be benefits to keeping that bad memory -- it will prevent me from doing the wrong thing in the future, or make me grow and better able to handle difficult people, etc. These all have tangible benefits to my success in life. So clearly, it's worth it to keep the bad experience.

Now, if the bad emotion is constantly recurring and affects your life in a major way (like in PTSD), this treatment might be worth it. But then again, what if it just represses the memory, and the negative feelings come out some other way?

Answer 3

I think that minimizing bad memories would result in people doing the same stuff over and over again. I realize that the drug is likely being marketed for those suffering severe trauma, but it is only time until people would want to use it to forget about bad relationships. Without those memories, how do we learn from our mistakes and move forward in a better direction than before?

Answer 4

it's my understanding that the new medication does not erase or remove memories but minimizes the repetitive trauma of a memory. i think it's a wonderful breakthrough for people who can not get past some horrible incident that has happened to them, help them get on with their life, remember how to be happy again. just think of the agony it will save rape victims and soldier returning home with severe emotional distress.

Answer 5

Sounds good but: will you remember who you are eventually? Will you learn from the past to change your future. Some things happen to us for reasons of karma. Old sins must be reconed with.

Answer 6

Yeah I saw that.

That has "Bad Idea" written All Over it.

I could understand how it might help extremely traumatic victems to cope. BUT, knowledge is strength. Just getting rid of the memmory isn't the solution.

Answer 7

If we truly erase bad memories we may not grow, change and learn.

Answer 8

probably to a certain degree. but that wont take care of it all cuz remember satan still roaming the earth seeing who he can devour

Answer 9

yea i saw it here in yahoo. i think its a good idea. it would make the people feel better.

Answer 10

big mistake
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