Identity Quote by Daniel Kahneman
““recent research that has introduced a distinction between two selves, the experiencing self and the remembering self, which do not have the same interests. For example, we can expose people to two painful experiences. One of these experiences is strictly worse than the other, because it is longer. But the automatic formation of memories—a feature of System 1—has its rules, which we can exploit so that the worse episode leaves a better memory. When people later choose which episode to repeat, they are, naturally, guided by their remembering self and expose themselves (their experiencing self) to unnecessary pain.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow, 2011
The remembering self values shorter, less painful experiences, causing people to repeat worse events for better recollection.
In simple terms: Memory favors shorter pain, leading to repeated suffering.
Key Takeaway
Beware of memory bias when making choices.
Themes
memory bias
decision making
psychology
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
theoretical
educational
When to use this quote
- pain management
- health decisions
- consumer choices
Key Concepts
experiencing self
remembering self
system 1
system 2
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your memory shape your decisions?
- Can you redesign experiences to improve memory?
A Different Perspective
Memory can mislead future choices.
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
