Why do we cringe at memories from years ago that nobody else even remembers?

r/

You know those random flashbacks to something embarrassing you did in middle school or said during a convo 6 years ago — and suddenly you’re filled with secondhand shame for your own past self? Why does our brain do this? Is there a reason we hold onto that stuff when everyone else probably forgot it ever happened? I genuinely don’t know the answer

Comments

  1. TooManyCarsandCats Avatar

    I was told it was a form of OCD/AD(H)D. I’ve also personally discovered that certain strains of marijuana make it worse, indica strains specifically for me.

  2. Jonatan83 Avatar

    Just fyi, you may not remember other peoples’ cringe, but everyone remembers yours. Specifically yours.

    But seriously: it’s just how the brain works. Like many quirks it has, we can just speculate. I’m sure there are some evolutionary psychology “theories” about this, but in the end it’s basically guessing with extra steps.

  3. Solid_Growth_9069 Avatar

    i’ve wondered about this myself, but now that i’m getting older i’m able to laugh about it.
    i have felt embarrassed but the way i see it is that shit happened so long ago, then i immediately snap out of it. it’s starting to happen less and less so that’s a plus

  4. Hughes930 Avatar

    Because I remember.

  5. BussyIsQuiteEdible Avatar

    youre the one who got embarrassed , not them. People may remember if you did something so pathetic or particular that it served as a lesson not to fuck up that way for themselves

  6. Relative_Payment_192 Avatar

    Accept the mantra that sometimes I am an ass, sometimes you are an ass, sometimes everyone’s an ass. You learn and move on and forget.

  7. ferrrrrrral Avatar

    i think it’s because when we were cave people we needed to remember the bad shit we did so we wouldn’t do it again

  8. Purlz1st Avatar

    I’ve reached the age where I look back at my most cringy moments, I’m now the only one still alive to remember. It’s a sad kind of relief.

  9. Beluga_Artist Avatar

    It’s probably just a way that we remember lessons learned so as to avoid repeating past mistakes.

  10. TooManyCarsandCats Avatar

    I’m replying again because I can’t see your reply.

    I was told it was a form of OCD/AD(H)D. I’ve also personally discovered that certain strains of marijuana make it worse, indica strains specifically for me.

  11. BigMrTea Avatar

    Because you’ve grown as a person and are comparing your past actions to your current self.

  12. Anxious-Lab-4985 Avatar

    because people hate themselves.