But this emotion-driven pattern recognition system can be distorted by 3 red flags of emotional tagging

• self-interest
  • biases the emotional importance we place on information, which makes it easier for us to see the patterns we want to see
• emotional attachments
  • our judgement can be affected by our attachment to people, places, things, etc.
• misleading memories
  • Related to experience bias

  • Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory resonate, Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker

  • Strong emotional attachment can mislead our memories even more