Felminnen

Felminnen is a Swedish term that translates roughly to "fault memory" or "error memory." It refers to a type of cognitive or perceptual bias where individuals remember or focus predominantly on mistakes, failures, or errors rather than successes or correct actions. This phenomenon can influence how people evaluate their own performance, often leading to a negative self-assessment or increased stress.

The concept of felminnen is rooted in broader psychological frameworks related to negative cognition and selective memory. It is associated with tendencies such as rumination, where individuals persistently think about past mistakes, which can impair overall well-being and hinder learning from experiences. Felminnen can affect various settings, including education, work, and personal relationships, by reinforcing feelings of inadequacy or incompetence.

Research suggests that felminnen is linked to cognitive biases like the negativity bias, where negative information is more salient and memorable than positive information. It can also be reinforced by environmental factors, such as critical feedback or a high-pressure context. Addressing felminnen often involves cognitive behavioral strategies that promote balanced reflection, emphasizing learning from errors while acknowledging successes.

In sum, felminnen is a psychological phenomenon that highlights the human tendency to disproportionately retain or attend to mistakes, impacting self-perception and emotional health. Understanding this bias is important for developing effective interventions and fostering a more balanced and resilient mindset.