Generalized amnesia is defined by which of the following?

Generalized amnesia is characterized by a profound inability to recall personal information, which can include a person's entire life history or a significant portion of it. This condition is not limited to specific events or experiences but rather encompasses a broad spectrum of a person's identity, including their memories, skills, and even their sense of self. The defining feature of generalized amnesia is the extensive nature of the memory loss, which typically cannot be attributed to common causes such as age or dementia.

In contrast, options that describe more limited memory loss, such as only specific events or traumatic experiences, do not accurately capture the essence of generalized amnesia. Similarly, the assumption of new identities relates more to dissociative identity disorder rather than generalized amnesia. The correct answer reflects the uniqueness of generalized amnesia in its all-encompassing effect on personal memory and identity.