According to one theory, forgetting may be attributed to the practice of submerging an unpleasant experience. This process is called:

The process described, where an individual subconsciously pushes away or suppresses an unpleasant experience or memory, is known as repression. This concept comes from Freudian psychology, where repression is viewed as a defense mechanism that protects the individual from anxiety or discomfort associated with distressing thoughts or experiences. By repressing these memories, a person avoids facing the emotional pain or turmoil that could arise if those memories were brought to consciousness.

Repression plays a significant role in how people cope with trauma or negative experiences, as it can lead to forgetting those events entirely or pushing them into the unconscious mind. This defense mechanism highlights the complexity of human memory and emotional regulation, suggesting that not all forgetting is merely due to decay or interference, but can also be an active process motivated by the desire to avoid psychological distress.