Daniel Kahneman, psychologist and Nobel Prize laureate for his groundbreaking work in behavioral economics, gave a thoughtful talk at TED this year. He dealt with the paradox between the experience and memory selves and how it applies to happiness. Kahneman asserts that time is the crucial element that distinguishes the experience and memory selves. He concludes that there is no change in time in the story; the story itself as actually experienced doesn't change. But what about our memory of it? Memory seems to evolve in time even though there is no actual change in the story itself. Our memory of the story often changes. Kahneman asserts that "we choose between memories of the experience." But I wonder about our recreating or reinventing the experience. Does this become memory?
What we think about "the happiness of the experiencing self and the satisfaction of the memory self" are very different, Khaneman posits. There is nothing new here really. I think this relates to our ability to invent stories, even memorable ones, those re-created by memory from the story. The mind seems to have a distinct ability to create stories, to develop pictures. But what is interesting is how these distinct selves relate to our happiness or sense of it. Kahnenman asserts that "happiness is not a substitute for well-being. They are two different notions." He gives stats that unequivocally indicate that money plays a role in how we remember happiness but not how we experience it. Do listen to the 20-minute video. You might find in interesting, even applicable in how we think about happiness.
What are your thoughts?
6 comments:
We seem inclined and able to reinvent our selves as we reinvent our lives. Or maybe they're the same thing. Experience must conform to something, somehow, or else there is chaos. Who can define happiness?
DB - I wonder if experience conforms to time, but not necessary a re-invention but a re-creation. So, experience is distinct from memory. As Kahneman noted, time seems to be the distinguishing element of experience and memory. Regarding the re-invention of ourselves, do we do this really? Do we really change our habits? This is the difference between memory and experience; we re-create the memory but not the experience. The question I had is if in our thoughts the memory becomes the experience over time. I wonder if re-invention of ourselves is largely a myth. Perhaps this is a reality worth considering especially as it relates to our happiness. Maybe things will be scaled back and we will be more reasonable in our desires and exceptions.
A re-inventing of ourselves is not a re-creation. I think it's more a matter of putting pieces in a different order. Experience is attached to memories and memories to events. Can it be that we re-order or re-interpret our memories to form a different set of priorities and thus draw new experiences from them?
Good question, DB. I'm uncertain about what comes beforehand. The mind can be funny, based seemingly on our emotional and intellectual state.
I do think that I'm very selective with my memories, both happy and sad. I tend to focus on moments in time where I was most vulnerable or confused. I have memories of happy times, but they definitely don't stick with me like the ones that were full of more hurt or anxiety. It's almost like those memories have to stay with me in order for me to work on building my sense of happiness and peace each day. Thanks for the video Judith. I'll have to think about this idea more.
The mind is very powerful. I think that we may have selective memory as a form of protection. I tend to remember moments of joy. I think it may also be a matter of what we focus on. I have a tendency to deal with things and after I can do know more about any particular situation, to release it. I may be great compartmentalizing, but not until I have first dealt with the situation. It isn't often that the sense memory leaves me, whether it's joyful or painful. But this isn't all bad. I use this for myself and others. We are all made of the same stuff to a greater or lesser degree based on our experiences. There is also the existential reality to consider that is apart from our experiences.
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