Reflecting on Parents in Therapy Can Shift Childhood Memories

New research suggests that reflecting on a parent in therapy can subtly alter how a person recalls feelings from childhood, even if the question is neutral. This process, known as reappraisal, may lead individuals to adjust their emotions or perceptions toward a parent, with potential long-term effects on family dynamics. In one experiment, participants were asked to remember positive or negative attributes of their mothers, which notably impacted their current and past feelings.