What is dissociative amnesia?

Dissociative amnesia is characterized by an inability to recall important personal information, typically related to trauma or stressful events. This type of amnesia is not simply a result of everyday forgetfulness; it is a psychological condition where the individual experiences significant memory loss that is inconsistent with ordinary forgetfulness.

The memories lost can include personal information, such as an individual's name, specific events in their life, or details surrounding a traumatic experience. This condition often arises as a coping mechanism for dealing with overwhelming stress or trauma, allowing the individual to detach from distressing memories and emotions. The other options do not capture the essence of dissociative amnesia accurately, as they relate to different causes or types of memory loss.