The INFJ's Memory Bank

Daveman · Mar 26, 2011

Initially, I had thought about making a thread that specifically asked about how good everyone's long-term memory is. But I have decided instead to broaden the topic to include anything memory-related, because I am also interested to know about the types of things that INFJs remember. Even though not everyone of the same type is exactly the same, the brain supposedly processes information in a similar manner.

(And yes, I still question if I am indeed an INFJ from time to time. I don't know if I'll ever be satisfied. :crazy

My long-term memory is excellent. I remember my early childhood very well, but it's not really the sensory details that I remember the most. For the most part, as I said in a different thread, it deals with the things that people say to me, especially if it is interesting or important for some reason.

Unlike just about everyone else I know, I can remember dates and names. And I have no trouble remembering anyone's birthday or anniversary or anything like that. I'm sure my future wife will appreciate that, if I ever get married.

I can also remember the theatrical release date of the vast majority of the major motion pictures from 1903 (The Great Train Robbery) to the present.

My theory is that my last sentence has more to do with me being a geek than my personality type.

So how about you? Do you even remember what the purpose of this thread was? Because if you do, you're better off than me. My working memory sucks. :dry:

vel · Mar 26, 2011

If it something that really matters to me or concerns somebody whom I really care about, I tend to remember it quite well. Problem arises with all those things that I don't care much about and hence remember them very vaguely, but that for some reason I'm expected to know or remember by others. For example my dad expects me to remember the road to some place where he drove me a couple of time and is surprised that I cannot and go to look up and write down street-by-street directions. Apparently he remembers the road on the first trip there as do most people. For me such stuff doesn't leave any trace in my memory at all. I only vaguely remember the approximate direction in which we headed and what the weather was like. I can even get lost on the third or fourth trip there. Technically it has to do with poor memory for names - I cannot easily remember the sequence of the names of the streets I have to take to get to the destination.

ohTOMICho · Mar 26, 2011

No, but I think you purposely tossed in a few awesome emotes to distract me!

Hmm, my memory is in excellent condition--but I can only remember things that affect me emotionally, whether it is the good kind of emotion or the bad--I will remember. However, ask me to recite Shakespearen sonnets, chemical, biological, or mathematical formulas, phone numbers, the last thing I ate, how many pairs of shoes I have, what a person was wearing during such and such, street addresses, blah, and bloh...and I'm going to be like this, "DROOLS @.@"

I remember a lot of things people tell me because I know it matters to them that they are heard--but seems like not a lot of people can recall what I said to them. Also, I tend to forget what I was initially writing about because I'm stupid. If none of this makes sense, fellow INFJs--you know why. xD

Daveman · Mar 26, 2011

Street addresses and directions in general are hard for me.

But @ohTOMICho, I do remember how many pairs of shoes I have.

I have two. :wink:

ohTOMICho · Mar 26, 2011

You, sir, are a true man.. Actually, I would prefer to have two...but I like Vans, Converses and cowboy boots too much to give them up! xD

Daveman · Mar 26, 2011

Ahhh! Now I get why @Vaan mentioned you in the avatar-changing thread.

Gildar · Mar 26, 2011

My memory is all over the place. I wrote it down in the other Memory thread in this subforum.

Daveman · Mar 26, 2011

Yeah, I couldn't remember if a thread like this had been made.

That just goes to show how bad my memory is. :crazy:

Vaan · Mar 26, 2011

my memory has more holes then a number 9 sponge -_-

Invidia · Mar 26, 2011

I have an awful short term memory, I think it is fried from stress

But I can remember things from 10-15 years ago like they happened yesterday

Edit: Dates I am pretty good with, names and even faces I suck at remembering. I always feel terrible when somebody recognizes me and I don't know who they are at all

Daveman · Mar 26, 2011

Shauna Rae said:
I have an awful short term memory, I think it is fried from stress But I can remember things from 10-15 years ago like they happened yesterday

Same here.

----------

And with that, I have reached my 900th post. Just 100 more to go before I reach robot status!

This looks like a good place to stop for the night. I hope to read some more interesting posts in this thread tomorrow.

Princess Rena · Mar 26, 2011

I have no idea if my memory has a pattern to its forgetfulness. - not good at remembering names, numbers, or dull irrelevant information. I tend to remember the bad moments (to the dismay of ex-boyfriends), the good memories, people, important dates like bdays, etc., and unique facts or strange stories. But if I'm going through some kind of strong emotional drama, then all bets are off....I forget everything.

Dalien · Mar 26, 2011

Well, my memory will surprise the heck out of me. I remember things at the oddest moment...no, wait...I think I have that backwards! I remember the oddest things at any given moment! Try following that one! :crazy: It is like I have so damn many memories, (I am getting older you know and have many many memories. :laughing

that someone will say something and a hour or so will go by, and I will go, "Oh, yeah, now I remember!" I find that word associations help tremendously. For me, they are completely natural...they just happen. I do have a trick that I have used forever and a day. I write things down to imprint them on my brain. I do this more so when I'm researching something that interests me. I research a lot. So much stuff up there that I could go mad with it, but I'm really sane! :crazy: Seriously, it is as if my mind never ever stops. I sure could use a break from it time to time! Well, now, did I cover all the questions? :laughing:

unico · Mar 26, 2011

I have lots of very early memories (I remember my second birthday and my memories have been acknowledged as accurate) and remember a lot of emotionally meaningful times, but in recent years (possibly due to stressors) I have some major blank outs. I have an eidetic memory in some ways -- for instance I can memorize books and where different lines are in the book and go back and "reread" that part, but usually that wears off after several months. I can't remember phone numbers at all -- I don't know why. I also can't remember directions at all. I remember how people look, even if they have changed very much over the years I can recognize them in a crowd. I am not the best at remembering names.

Vaan · Mar 26, 2011

you still havent told me what it means either yet >.<

balderdash · Mar 26, 2011

Memories? What? Oh. Right. Yeah I remember some stuff. I forget the rest. There's a lot of the rest. Funny thing is, I don't think I ever forget anything. It just gets buried, then resurfaces whenever it feels like popping up. I could probably remember most of the places I parked my car in the past year if I thought about it, but it might take me a minute to remember where I'm parked right now. Then, other days I know where everything is, but I can't remember what day it is. The rest of the time I am somewhere in between startlingly lucid and dangerously dreamy. I can recall things, it just seems like the harder I try the further away it slips. Just far enough away for me to brush my fingertips across its surface, but not get a good grip. Almost like I am pushing it further away. Like when you are really tired and too lazy to get up. So you reach for that something nearby and end up bumping it further and further away.

Hokahey · Mar 26, 2011

I couldn't begin to tell you how my memory works. I remember so many things. Just constantly too. Like basically I just rehash them as I go through the day. I can remember things as far back as 3. I can remember arguments I had when I was 5. The time I turned my brother in for having a playboy when I was 6 he was 12. I remember just so many things, it scares me. I remember movies like it's nothing, and a lot of different aspects of the movie as well. "Oh hey I know that guy, he was in this movie" sometimes I can tell just by seeing the person's eyes (if he has a mask on or is covered up) or simply a voice. Then if a movie is starting in another room and I can hear it within the first 3 minutes I could tell you what movie they are watching, not necessarily because of music either. When they change a channel to a different movie, yep know that one instantly and where it is in the movie.

I'd probably be a really good person that makes sure everything goes back into place for scenes. :tongue:

Honestly I do feel my memory is a gift and a curse.

Last day of kindergarden we watched "King Kong". My bus was the "elephant". I remember my dad saying he would never want to be president because secret service would have to watch us constantly for fear of getting kidnapped and such. This was 2nd grade btw and I remember thinking, "would they have to watch me go to the bathroom too?" and being very scared by this thought.

Like seriously WAY TOO many memories.

rubelin · Jun 14, 2011

Hokahey said:
Honestly I do feel my memory is a gift and a curse.

<snip>

Like seriously WAY TOO many memories.

curious0610 said:
Nice thread.

I have an awful memory and I'm very forgetful. Actually...I have selective memory - In general, I remember the good, positive things, and forget the traumatizing, bad things. I can't tell if it's a gift or a curse. Perhaps a little bit of both. I'll remember how I feel about someone or something (if it's bad), but my mind will erase many of the sensory details leading up to my opinion of that person. It's like when I door-slam someone, that person becomes so unimportant to me, those memories get pushed out of my mind. With significant things in my life (whether it's positive or negative), I'm left with a general "feel" or emotional recollection of it, rather than the very specific details.

However, I remember really random things about significant people in my life - dates, numbers, addresses, something they mentioned in a conversation. In general, I remember and memorize things well (I know... that sounds contradictory to what I wrote above). At times, I can read something once, and I'll be able to give you the 'bigger picture' summary as well as remembering really specific details which surprise people.

When it comes to day to day mundane tasks, I'm very forgetful and write EVERYTHING down on to do lists.

What you both said covers me. I have a freaky-good memory (my father regularly refers to me as an elephant) but a lot of it is for random things that nobody would even remember. I have clear memories from before age 2 and can go through my life chronologically and pull out clear images of days all along - sometimes it's things that really stand out - like my preschool graduation (I was the MC) or when a dog wandered into our classroom at the beginning of first grade, or the school play in 3rd grade - but a lot of it is random moments when I was alone, playing in the backyard,

My memory holds best to stories, music, and other sensory stuff. If I have stuck a fact into my mind, it will be remembered, but I have to make it into a story and stick it there. Hearing someone tell me their birthday won't work, I have to say it to myself, perhaps with additional info (L's birthday is June 12, a week between mine and B's) but, though I will be able to answer what the info is if asked, I won't realize that today is their birthday unless I see a calendar or otherwise notice the date and have the association (Happened today when I saw that yesterday was the 12th and I didn't call L to wish her a happy birthday, doh!)

Vaan · Mar 26, 2011

i dont know if this is relevant or not, but i went through a phase in year 9-10 where i would dream every event of the next day, resulting in alot of deja vu

MJ Gray · Mar 26, 2011

My memory is terrible. Truely awful, and all over the place. I can recite poetry all day long, but I can't tell you when I memorised it or why. I can't remember names but I remember people - not what they look like, which I rarely even notice, but what they are like. (if that even makes sense) My short term memory is crap. Thank gawd for filofax. I'm always worried that I'll contradict myself in posts because I can't remember what I said yesterday and today I'm a different person. My long term memory is weird - if I actually stop, and go back, and examine it then I can remember some specific incidents but it takes a lot of focus and concentration for me to do that and I mostly can't be bothered. When I think about my past (everything from yesterday backwards in time) I think of it as a whole big thing, a sort of sum total experience. If I need things - facts, statistics, shit I know - for conversation then they sort of float up for me. Just don't ask me to quote my source lol.

abster · Mar 26, 2011

I have a lot of deja vu moments. I remember emotions attached to events, although i cant remember dates and i am terrible in remembering ppl's bdays. i used to work as a cashier so i am pretty good at remembering numbers, like phone numbers, bank numbers, password numbers. Im also good with ppl's names and street addresses. If i practice, i can recite a whole poem or speech i have to do and memorize it.

Nimo01 · Mar 26, 2011

Nice thread.

I have an awful memory and I'm very forgetful. Actually...I have selective memory - In general, I remember the good, positive things, and forget the traumatizing, bad things. I can't tell if it's a gift or a curse. Perhaps a little bit of both. I'll remember how I feel about someone or something (if it's bad), but my mind will erase many of the sensory details leading up to my opinion of that person. It's like when I door-slam someone, that person becomes so unimportant to me, those memories get pushed out of my mind. With significant things in my life (whether it's positive or negative), I'm left with a general "feel" or emotional recollection of it, rather than the very specific details.

However, I remember really random things about significant people in my life - dates, numbers, addresses, something they mentioned in a conversation. In general, I remember and memorize things well (I know... that sounds contradictory to what I wrote above). At times, I can read something once, and I'll be able to give you the 'bigger picture' summary as well as remembering really specific details which surprise people.

When it comes to day to day mundane tasks, I'm very forgetful and write EVERYTHING down on to do lists.

Hokahey · Mar 26, 2011

I remember the first time/ last time I ever went and saw boxing, my step-dad took me. I remember feeling depressed because it wasn't like "Rocky" lol...not saying I love "blood" but there was no emotional music and pure heart visible like the movie.

roxtehproxy · Mar 26, 2011

I can still remember most of the dates in our history class last year for the events we discussed.

Plutonicmind · Mar 27, 2011

Horrible short term

Incredible long term but only for details......I remember things my friends don't, and everyone remembers things that I don't...I usually remember a sentence someone told me 6 years ago, even thought it was just a "common" one. I don't remember if I was on my 5th grade schoolplay, but everyone says I wasn't...You know, I remember details, not the big picture.

roxtehproxy · Mar 27, 2011

The sentence probably meant a lot.

Annihilatron · Mar 27, 2011

Active/Short Term memory: 4-8 items, depending on how well they're interrelated. This is actually average. Everyone says they have terrible short term memory - but that's just in comparison to long term. Short term memory is supposed to be terrible.

Long Term memory: Generally good, dependent on how many times I repeated an item within the mind. Only hearing it once, it will go away. Heard and used several times, it'll stay but recall time is not so good. Heard and *written down* and it generally stays, but again, recall not so good.

Skios · Mar 27, 2011

My longterm memory is excellent. Short term, not so much. It either has to be numerical, scheduled, topographical, or somehow striking for me to remember it. The only things I'm really good at committing to short term memory are numbers and geography which is why if it's somehow related to one of those things I'm more likely to remember it.

MiriUchiha · Jun 13, 2011

I remember my childhood, but only from 7+ with small holes in between times and events. Basically I remember the emotional times because they seem to stick, otherwise I would forget the little things that didn't really resonate with me at the time.

DreamingSoul · Jun 14, 2011

It depends. It weird because I remember things quickly and there are times where I don't remember them.

cypresstree · Jun 14, 2011

I remember very well:
song lyrics
conversations
my schedule
other people's schedules
emotions (how I felt when I was feeling good or bad)
a lot from my childhood (ex: I knew there was an earthquake in San Francisco in 1989, because I was only there once, when I was 5, and I remember a sense that the buildings in San Francisco were all confusingly broken)
people's middle names

I forget:
my age
times tables
things people told me to do, especially things that people told me to "remind" them about
to buy groceries
things that I read (even though I am an avid reader, must take notes or it's a waste of time)
to eat (sometimes, if I am busy)

The INFJ's Memory Bank

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