Is there any disadvantage to having a photographic or eidetic memory?

Question

"Although the terms eidetic memory and photographic memory are popularly used interchangeably, they are also distinguished, with eidetic memory referring to the ability to see an object for a few minutes after it is no longer present, and photographic memory referring to the ability to recall pages of text or numbers, or similar, in great detail."

I wish I had either a photographic or eidetic memory.
My aunt does (the latter) and she's smart and nice too.
It would make me feel better for not having it, if someone could tell us about any disadvantages!

I kind of hate this song, but wow, this girl is gorgeous. I had to click on this video just to see her.

Here's a cute version of 'Memories' by Tom Hanks:

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

Absolutely. My best friend has Asperger's, and from that the best memory you'll ever encounter. And while I think he mostly sees it as a positive, it has a terrible cost. I'm not at all sure I'd be able to endure it.

At one point, when he was consoling me after a nasty breakup, I asked him why he's never dated anyone. He got very sad and asked me to actually think about the level of closeness sex requires. And the level of trust that closeness requires. And about how much trust you'd have for other people if you could remember every single time you've ever been betrayed, as clearly as if it had happened yesterday.

But you don't NEED romance to be happy, right? So what about other normal human interaction? Demonstrably, you can still have friends. Good. But picture this: you get into a fight with your wife. Not a normal fight, but a married people fight- the kind where you get into vicious psychotic screaming matches about things like toaster settings. The Bible says to stay up and fight, but you go to bed angry. You lay there, angrily staring away from the back of her head, seething. Eventually, you fall asleep. And when you wake up, where's your anger? Oh, a piece of it is still there- but only a piece. Most of it has faded away like the morning dew.

Why?

The dispute hasn't been settled, apologies haven't been given, reparations haven't been made; you can't even say experience has given you perspective because you slept through it all. NOTHING HAS CHANGED, except the hands on the clock and the date on the calendar, but your anger has faded. Do you have any idea how hard that is to relate to?

Of course not. Neither do I; we forget things. So does almost everyone else; most of us never even think that it could be otherwise. It's not just that the eidetic are living in a world where everyone else has early stage Alzheimer's; they're living in a world where everyone else lacks object permanence. It's as wretchedly lonely a life as you can imagine.

Citizenkirk · Accepted Answer

I believe we have the kinds of memory recall we have as a result of evolutionary development from conditions in our family history that give us the kind of recall that makes a specific kind of memory useful in survival. I don't know exactly what it was in my family history the necessitated my remembering every note of every instrument and vocal of every song or tune I've ever heard in my entire life from the time I came out of my mom till now, but I've got more music stored in my head than any computer on Earth is capable of containing in data, and I can recall every single one of them and tell you the exact notes of every single instrument and vocalist simultaneously. I can't explain how I do it, but I remember tunes I heard on the radio when I was 2 years old and just like it was yesterday l, and I don't mean just a general theme. I mean every single note, tempo variation, every single instrument and singer in there. That came in handy when I was in band, because my instructors thought I was beyond genius of the level and I didn't have the heart to tell them no I'm an idiot with absolute perfect recall on music. I can't create music, but I can remember and I can play it perfectly but to be a professional musician you don't have to be able to play music personally, you have to be able to create music. so I guess I'm like an idiot savant in music.

wolfcat87 · Accepted Answer

Having a photographic memory has been mostly amazing. I can recall textbook pages and read them during exams. I can solve memory based issues easily. The most beautiful moments and memories are right there to watch over and over. It's a blessing, but photographic memory can also be a curse.

There is a dark side. Imagine you see something horrible. A rape. A murder. An assault. Abuse. War. An accident. Your significant other on top of someone else naked and cheating. You may end up reliving these moments in the most graphic detail as if you are right there with it happening over and over and over for many years to come... You won't be able to escape it, and it won't fade any time soon. It won't just be something you knew happened vaguely. It would be there in HD every time you close your eyes.

MORPHEUS_12 · Accepted Answer

I have a photographic memory. While it's mostly been a positive experience there have some situations where people where not too thrilled or were spooked beyond measure. Once my husband and I needed to purchase a new dishwasher. The salesman signed his name to the purchase order and my brain kicked in and remembered that the same salesman had sold my Father a computer 20 years prior. I even told the salesman where it was and the name of the business. He was shocked and amazed but freaked out all at the same time. The sad thing is that the world's memory at large is faultering and it makes those of us who have photographic memories look crazy.

Massageman · Answer

I would think that with so many things fighting for recognition in your brain, that FOCUSING on a single thought might be difficult.

IsuckIguess · Answer

I still remember the vivid image of my father throwing my mother's old Sony Erricson antenna phone out of the closed window.
I still vividly remember my father slamming her on the bed with the blue & gold star, sun and moon patterned sheets and kicking and beating her while I was screaming.
I still remember how bad my beige+pink color block PJs with a little cartoon rabbit smelled after I peed myself right then and there.
Still remember how my mom's eyebrow scar looked like when it was a fresh wound, as she was sitting crying in the brown leather couch, telling me to go to sleep.
I was 4 back then, I know, because somewhere around that time I blew out a heart shaped cake with 4 twisty whitepink candles. The cream was pink and there were strawberries on the edges propped up.
One of my first memories are of my step sister, crushing my baby hands while I was standing up in a white meshed baby "cage", holding myself against the rim. I remember her angry face. I couldn't have been older than 2, as the the first cake I've seen was a chocolate hedgehog on top with two green candles forming a V and then I was able to walk.

I can remember my dreams and never misplace things tho I guess? If I lose something I can usually just trace it back to where it was lost which rarely happens anyway. I don't know.

Jjpayne · Answer

I think knowing too much has it's disadvantages. You lose that simpleness or the means of rediscovery and maybe a little lack of humility.

It's looking at a puddle of rain and saying I know the molecules and how water evaporates and where it goes... Losing your ability to be amazed by how magical the water looks.

I think simply said, you lose innocence and the ability to be innocent with more knowledge. I think there is a value in enjoying the simple things without over thinking them.

Hopefully that makes sense 😅

Lliam · Answer

I wouldn't know. LOL My memory isn't great. I get impressions but have a hard time remembering details. I have to pound facts and figures into my head to remember them. I'm better at recalling images.

The only disadvantage I can think of would be if you remembered so much that it over crowded your brain and created a jumble.

But here's something else I found:
Frankland and Blake Richards pointed out in a paper in Neuron in 2017. Simplification “is an essential component of adaptive memory,” they wrote. “Simple memories that store the gist of our experiences and avoid complicated details will be better for generalizing to future events.”
Getting the gist, and just the gist, is therefore valuable as an aid to making smart decisions.
https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2019/why-we-forget

Lynx122 · Answer

I don't know, my memory is very good but it's none of these. I can remember things that interest me very well but I can't control it that well it just kinda happens. I sometimes ask people do you remember when you were here and we talked about that? And they say no and then I tell them the conversation word for word and then they kinda remember again.

I can't remember every conversation but if there was something that happened that was meaningful to me then I can. I don't know about these two types of memories though I've never heard about any negative effects. With me there are plenty of downsides but I've only ever heard people talk about photographic memory in a positive way so I assume there's not that many downsides or none at all.

LaFerrari · Answer

Yes there are some disadvantages for having a photographic memory, Especially for those in tough jobs or jobs that are surrounded by death, When i was in Biohazard janitorial services I would clean anything from hoarders homes, mold, medical involved cleanups or crime scenes.

I didn't think much of it when i was working in that job, but further down the line those certain scenes or cleanups i can remember in full detail almost, it brings out full panic attacks for me at times, 80% of the scenes i worked at had gore/blood whether it was a fatal scene or medical cleanup.

At the time i wasn't much affected by blood, but gore on the other hand is a whole other issue. No one can ever get used to that, even the mentally toughest people in the business crack eventually, so add a photographic memory on top of that... its not a good mix.

RingOfFire · Answer

There are disadvantages to having any kind of memory. As you get older you will accumulate a lot of memories you wish you could forget.

Sometimes I envy my mother who has dementia. She never has an unhappy day because she can't remember a thing!

matchrestore · Answer

My photographic memory is pretty strong, but it seems to come at the expense of other memory. I did poorly in classes where the tests were based on lecture with no powerpoint/overheads (yes I'm old)/etc. If there were visual aids, I did really well.

ZackBan · Answer

Well I've always had this thing where I can remember anything I hear regardless of when I heard it. It's not a super power in a sense there are times I can't focus and it doesn't work but the majority of time it does.

So anythinf anyone told me I can recall it.
Any song I've heard twice I can sing it word for word, even complex ones like rap songs.
It's come in handy in school when the teacher is good at explaining verbally the lesson I never even need to review it but instead remember everything that was said and can solve a test

1stranger · Answer

There would be an overload on data entry into the brain. Think.. What do we see if we look at an apple tree? Yellow apples, green leaves, trunk and branches of the tree. But when they look at the tree, they also see the number and shape of the apples; the direction, number, thickness of the branches; and the indentations and protrusions on the trunk of the tree. So, everything about the tree..

mk200195 · Answer

A very close friend of mine has a photographic memory. The only downside i can see is that it doesn't help with anxiety at all. You remember all the traumatizing things that happened to you. The thing, is you remember the worst moment possible. It may eat you up inside

Phoenix98 · Answer

I feel like you could really succeed in life career wise if you had an photographic memory. Since you can't ever forget anything all that knowledge you learn in school will stick with you forever.

I think the only downside to photographic memory is you can never forget painful or bad memories/moments.

EssenceOfLight · Answer

For me it's an advantage. I never learned much before tests in schools. It was enough to flick through my notices or important sides in books and I was good prepared for most exams.
The only one disadvantage is that I don't remember especially good numbers or names only when I hear them. However in modern world where everyone is bombarded with visual information it's not really a problem.

sp33d · Answer

I have some form of photographic memory with no major side-effects (so far). Advantages are there sure, but it's not like I can control what I remember in great detail. So you can be sure I remember in great detail a lot of what I don't want to remember..

HamesOluwasanmi · Answer

Downside is; people think you're crazy or a liar, cos apparently you're the only one that remembers others do not, you're the odd one out, so yes you're crazy.

Then at times it pisses other people off, you can remember things people wanna forget and not talk about.

DevanRowland · Answer

Its OK in some situations but if you see something you really don't want to see you are stuck with it forever. But if you see something very useful like the answer key to a test on your teachers desk it can be great. But then the problem is that its really only helpful for the first few years of your life.

TheGuyWhoKnowsStuff · Answer

I have a photographic and eidetic memory and you really do recall a lot of useless crap but when thinking what life would be like without a working memory like I have? I'd feel crippled or stupid.

Juxtapose · Answer

As someone with a poor memory, I can tell you that I enjoy repetition and what not faaar more than my friends with excellent memories who tend to get bored very quickly.

nathanp97 · Answer

I don't have it, but some hate it because they can always remember the bad things in their life, and can obses over information and realize just how little they know, while trying to obtain all 5he knowledge.

Stazz76 · Answer

I have a friend with a memory for every conversation she's ever had. She's also a lawyer. She holds everybody to account for everything they've ever said. She also doesn't stay in relationships for long, and while she has monogamous values, she strongly believes in 'serial monogamy', and breaks up with people rather easily. I'm not sure if this ability and lifestyle augers well for happiness.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

I have a photographic memory with images and can draw them, i grasp art concepts quickly with little practice, but it comes at a cost, I have a hard time remembering anything verbal and I suck at math.

blondfrog · Answer

Yes of course. Remembering everything can be bad especially if its about something you can never move on about.

Dragonpurple · Answer

I don't have it so I can't really say if it would be good or bad, although I imagine if someone see's something they really don't want to ever remember... that could be a problem.

TayTay21 · Answer

The disadvantage is you tend to bore/piss people off recounting the details of something they forgot.

Archerer · Answer

It sounds like a superpower to me, I don't have any visual memory at all, so photographic memory seems incredible! I can only imagine it being disadvantageous if you have a lot of trauma and can't help but relive it, though that is something you could overcome.

Likes2drive · Answer

I wish I had that because I would forget what I learn one studying or reading I could easily learn any language

clampfan101 · Answer

My memory is terrible, but I’m sure my answer would be A if I did have extraordinary memory. (Because everyone has things they want to forget...)

amyismyname · Answer

Can't use " I forgot as a excuse " lol

TOTEMPLASTER · Answer

Having either such memory would be great advantage in academic studies, business meetings, and many other situations where a powerful recall would be most useful..

Alexa703 · Answer

Yes when your at a place you been before could trigger both good and bad memories.

MrCreep · Answer

If you remember everything and don't keep the mind tidy it hurts the head or becomes a bit crazy in older age from poor management

Hanoi_Jane00 · Answer

Seeing your parents having sex. You can't forget it and remember every detail exactly.

AlwaysBelieving · Answer

I don't think I have either, I just have a really good memory (like remembering stuff when I was 5 good... and that was 35+ years ago). It has its draw backs, but I'll take them.

jackieistired · Answer

Its awful. I remember everything so I'm able to hold grudges for a VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY LONG TIME

themythos · Answer

Imagine the Non stop useless memories. I already remember useless conversations on here but remembering every comment ever made until death would suck

Steve1071 · Answer

My parents had 400+ movies in their library and it was very easy for me to remember every single one.

msc545 · Answer

It has been very useful for me.

scooogy · Answer

I have control over it, but there are memories of things when seeing them I thought "God, no"

K-I-S-S · Answer

Yes, a big pile of poo stays with you forever.

Joker_ · Answer

T. Hanks

Waldoe · Answer

I don't remember...

Is there any disadvantage to having a photographic or eidetic memory?

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Would it be seen as weird to have an almost photographic short term memory but terrible long term memory?

Is there any disadvantage to having a photographic or eidetic memory?

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Would it be seen as weird to have an almost photographic short term memory but terrible long term memory?

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