Have you ever found yourself remembering the same event differently than someone else? Have you ever believed something happened, but had no evidence to back it up? Have you ever been surprised by the death of a famous person because you thought they were dead a long time ago? If your answer is yes, then you may have experienced false memories.
False memory is a psychological phenomenon that refers to the memory of an event that did not occur, or a distorted version of an event that actually occurred. False memories may arise because our brains are too efficient, trying to fill in the gaps in our memories with our expectations. The impact of false memories can range from trivial to severe, affecting legal and social justice.
In this article, we will explore some examples of false memories, analyze how they arise, and what impact they have on our lives. We’ll also give you some suggestions on how to avoid or reduce false memories, making your memories more authentic and reliable.
The Lost Remote Control Controversy
Every couple has been in this situation. You turn on the TV to catch up on the recently aired TV series ‘Rush,’ but there’s a problem: you can’t find the remote control. You ask your partner where he put the remote control yesterday, but he says you put it there for the last time. After a few minutes of (irrelevant) arguing, you flop down on the couch in a huff…and what do you find between the cushions? remote control. Right where you left yesterday. oops.
This is a common example of false memory. You and your partner both have different memories of yesterday’s TV viewing, and you both think you’re right. This is because your memory traces are weak and your expectations are strong. An engram is a specific pattern of brain cells that becomes active when something memorable happens. When you recall the event, the same pattern becomes active again, and you remember the event accurately. But when you recall a less memorable event (like watching TV), it’s likely that not the entire pattern will come alive, the memory trace will be weak, and the memory will be fuzzy.
At this point, your brain uses your expectations to fill in the missing information. Your expectations are based on your experiences, beliefs, and emotions. For example, you may often see your partner holding the remote control, or you may feel that your partner is more careless than you are, or you may be somewhat resentful of your partner. These factors can affect your memory and cause you to mistakenly remember that the remote is with your partner rather than you.
Mandela Effect
A well-known common false memory is that of Nelson Mandela. When he died in 2013, many people were confused because they clearly remembered Mandela’s death in prison in the 1980s. Despite evidence that Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and lived until 2013, these men remain convinced that their memories are authentic. This shared recollection of something that has no historical record is now known as the “Mandela effect.”
Other examples of the Mandela Effect include: Many people remember Darth Vader’s words from Star Wars as ‘Luke, I am your father’ (actually ‘No, I am your father’), and many Remember that the name of ‘Cher Bear’ is ‘Berenstein’ (actually ‘Berenstein’), and many people remember that Mona Lisa’s smile is expressive (actually flat).
So why do so many people have similar memories of things that didn’t happen? One possible explanation is predictive coding theory. This theory suggests that false memories occur when weak memory traces and strong expectations meet. Expectations refer to our general impressions or common sense about things. For example, we might expect a father to tell his son who he is, or that a famous children’s book will feature a common surname, or that a famous painting will feature a vivid expression. When our memory traces are unclear, our expectations take over and we remember the wrong details.
Central Park Five case
False memories not only affect our daily lives, but also affect legal and social justice. A famous example is the case of the Central Park Five (eventually adapted into the Netflix series ‘When They See Us’). This true story follows five boys who were wrongly convicted of murder, rape, and multiple robberies in Central Park. Despite their innocence, eyewitness testimony was strongly based on expectations and beliefs, placing them at multiple crime scenes (simultaneously…), illustrating the ease and impact of false memories.
Eyewitness testimony is one of the most powerful pieces of evidence in court, but it is also the least reliable. People’s memories of criminal events are often incomplete, vague, or wrong because criminal events are often sudden, tense, and complex. Witnesses’ memories can also be affected by other factors, such as media reports, police interviews, lawyers’ questions, and statements from other witnesses. These factors may stimulate or reinforce the expectations of witnesses, causing them to remember details that are inconsistent with the facts.
How to avoid or reduce false memories
False memories are a psychological phenomenon that cannot be completely eliminated, but there are steps we can take to avoid or reduce them. Here are some suggestions:
-Keep an open mind. Don’t let your worldview, beliefs, or emotions cloud your memory. When you recall or recount something, try to remain objective and impartial and don’t let your biases or emotions interfere with your memory.
- Record important things. If you want to remember the details of something, it’s a good idea to write it down or record it so you can review it later. This prevents your memory from becoming hazy or inaccurate over time. You can also use photos, videos, or other items to help you recall an event, but be careful not to be influenced by other people or media.
- Brush up on your memory. If you want to keep your memory clear and accurate, you need to review your memory regularly. Review can be through repetition, testing, reviewing, or rebuilding your memory. Reviewing can help you strengthen your memory trace and reduce your memory loss or confusion. You can also share your memories with others, but be careful to compare and check whether your memories are consistent.
- Question your memory. If your memory of an event is vague, uncertain, or inconsistent with other people’s memories, you should question your memory. You can look for evidence to support or refute your memory, or seek input or help from others. You can also try to recall an event from a different angle or perspective to see if your memory changes or conflicts.
Summarize
False memories are a common psychological phenomenon that refer to memories of events that did not occur, or are distorted versions of events that actually occurred. False memories may arise because our brains are too efficient, trying to fill in the gaps in our memories with our expectations. The impact of false memories can range from trivial to severe, affecting legal and social justice.
We can take some measures to avoid or reduce false memories, such as keeping an open mind, recording important things, reviewing your memory, questioning your memory, etc. These methods can help us improve the authenticity and reliability of our memories, allowing us to better understand ourselves and the world.
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