Explicit memory
Explicit memory is the memory of consciously available facts and events that can be recalled and described in words.
Definition
Explicit memory includes, among others, episodic memory, i.e. memories of specific events, and semantic memory, i.e. general knowledge. It differs from procedural memory, which is responsible for skills and automaticities. It is not a perfect recording of the past, because remembering can change the way a memory is told.
Key ideas
- Conscious recall
- Facts and events
- Episodic and semantic memory
Practice and life
When you analyze a memory, separate: what I remember as fact, what I interpret, and what I add based on the current state.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to treat explicit memory as an immutable video record. It is also a mistake to confuse general knowledge with personal memory.
> Not everything you remember is what actually happened.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- Is it fact, memory or interpretation?
- How do current emotions affect my recall?
- What can I verify in the data or notes?