Selective amnesia involves which of the following?

Selective amnesia refers to a type of memory loss where an individual is unable to recall certain details about a specific traumatic event, while other memories, especially those that are not related to the trauma, remain intact. This form of amnesia serves as a psychological defense mechanism, helping the individual cope with the distress associated with the traumatic memories.

In the context of this question, the recognition that someone may remember aspects of their life or other events clearly, but struggle to retrieve specific details about a traumatic incident, aligns perfectly with the concept of selective amnesia. This targeted forgetting can manifest as memory gaps concerning particular elements such as the emotions felt, the context of the trauma, or specific actions taken during the event, rather than a total loss of memory or identity.

Understanding selective amnesia is crucial, particularly in fields such as psychology and counseling, where clients may experience distressing memories related to trauma, and knowledge of this phenomenon can guide effective therapeutic approaches.