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Differentiating between reality and fantasy may appear straightforward, but at times, it transpires that the incidents we recall vividly never took place in actuality. What’s more, several individuals have these erroneous recollections in common. This occurrence is referred to as the Mandela effect, which is discussed in the latest edition of the guide to the psyche.
What is Mandela effect?
The Mandela Effect occurs when a significant number of individuals share incorrect memories that may become part of the collective memory and popular culture. This phenomenon often leads people to attribute statements to individuals that they never made, believe in events that never happened, or confuse fictional characters with their real-life counterparts.
Fiona Broome, a paranormal consultant, is credited with coining the term “Mandela Effect.” However, despite the paranormal connotations, there is no evidence to suggest that the phenomenon is paranormal in nature. In 2009, Broome discovered that she, along with thousands of others, had a false memory that Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, died in prison during the 1980s. Many could even recall reading about it in newspapers or watching news broadcasts.
In reality, Mandela was released from prison in 1990, became South Africa’s President in the 1990s, and passed away in 2013. While Broome views this phenomenon as proof of the existence of parallel realities, scientists attribute it to the peculiarities of memory function.
A study conducted by Professor of Psychology Jim Coan and his colleagues at Washington University recreated the process of forming collective false memories through the “lost in the shopping center” technique.
The “lost in the shopping center” technique, which was initially used by Professor Jim Coan, involved distributing booklets to his close relatives that contained various childhood stories, one of which was untrue. The story involved Koan’s brother getting lost in a shopping center. Surprisingly, the participants did not detect the falsehood, and Koan’s brother even added more details to the story. This technique was later adapted for larger groups, and the results indicated that 25% of the participants took the fabricated events as truth.
In another experiment, participants were presented with a list of related words such as “bed” and “pillow” and were asked to recall as many as possible. The participants often listed other related words not on the list, such as “sleep,” leading to false or inaccurate memories.
Additionally, research shows that many people remember the appearance of popular characters inaccurately. In fact, 67% of people did not recognize seven out of the 40 well-known characters correctly. For example, individuals thought that the Star Wars robot C-3PO was entirely golden, but part of its leg was silver. Similarly, people incorrectly believed that Pikachu’s tail was black at the end, when it was entirely yellow.
Here are a few examples of the consequences of the Mandela effect:
- Darth Vader’s famous line is often misquoted as “Luke, I am your father,” when he actually said “No, I am your father.”
- Many people believe the character on the “Monopoly” box is wearing a tuxedo, but he is not.
- Val Kilmer, who played Jim Morrison in a biopic, is often mistaken for the musician in photographs.
- Boris Yeltsin is commonly misquoted as saying “I am tired, I am leaving,” but he actually said “I am leaving, I have done all I could” in his address.
- A staged car accident that was shown on TV after Princess Diana’s death is often believed to be real footage.
- Despite popular belief, Mickey Mouse does not wear suspenders, but rather shorts with large white buttons.
- The sentence “For sale: baby shoes, never worn” is often attributed to Hemingway as his shortest story, but it was actually invented after his death.
What is the reason for the Mandela effect?
Due to errors in schematic thinking
The human brain has a tendency to make assumptions and fill in gaps in information. These assumptions can seem reasonable and be shared by multiple individuals at once.
Confabulation, also known as honest lying, is a result of this brain feature. A person telling a story may sincerely want to provide as much detail as possible and therefore add in additional facts that they believe are missing. As others repeat the story, everyone may begin to accept these added details as factual and the story becomes distorted.
Because of misinformation
There is a tendency for people to trust the opinions of others. If everyone seems to agree that something happened, it is often assumed to be true. Memory formation experiments have shown that researchers were able to persuade 47% of participants that a certain event had occurred during their childhood, despite it never actually happening. However, only 15% of these individuals were able to “remember” specific details of the fabricated event.
What are the risks associated with the Mandela effect?
The majority of collective false memories are relatively harmless. Whether or not Coco Chanel actually spoke the words attributed to her is not a significant concern for historical accuracy.
However, false memories can sometimes have a significant impact on people’s behavior. For example, false news stories can create fabricated memories concerning important issues. This was demonstrated in an experiment conducted prior to the referendum on the legalization of abortion in Ireland. Participants were presented with scandals related to abortion, two of which were completely made up. In half of the cases, the participants accepted at least one of the fake news stories as true.
Furthermore, the choice of which news stories to present was heavily influenced by the initial beliefs of the participants. Those who were in favor of legalizing abortion formed false memories about a fake scandal involving opponents of abortion, while those who were against legalization formed false memories about a fictional scandal involving supporters of abortion. Most importantly, these false memories served as evidence to participants that they were correct, and they strengthened their resolve to vote in the referendum in accordance with their beliefs. Those who scored lower on an intelligence test were particularly susceptible to disinformation.
The implantation of false memories can be utilized as a propaganda tool. By continuously presenting a particular narrative about the past, people can be influenced to make incorrect decisions and form a distorted view of the world.
How to handle the Mandela effect?
Currently, researchers have not developed specific methods for distinguishing false memories from genuine ones, despite their efforts to scrutinize unreliable recollections of significant occurrences by eyewitnesses. Nonetheless, there exist various means to minimize the likelihood of experiencing false memories and any adverse effects that may arise from them.
Look for evidence
In order to ascertain the veracity of an event, it is crucial to gather evidence and scrutinize the available facts. This evidence may include photographs, statements from other individuals, or official documents. When assessing collective memories, it is advisable to corroborate the information with reliable sources that are trusted and recognized for their accuracy.
Take into account mechanisms of memory operation
It is essential to consider the mechanisms underlying memory functioning when evaluating the accuracy of recollections. Memory is inherently susceptible to alteration and can be influenced by various factors. Over time, new associations and interpretations may be incorporated into actual events, resulting in the formation of false memories. Historians have observed that memories of historical events can shift depending on the prevailing interpretations of a particular era, thus highlighting the inherent mutability of memory. As a result, memoirs are generally not regarded as dependable sources of information. Individuals with active imaginations and creative minds may be particularly susceptible to the formation of false memories.
Remember about popular culture
It is important to take into account the impact of popular culture on how individuals perceive historical events and phenomena. Popular media such as movies and books can significantly shape people’s understanding of various epochs and occurrences, despite their potential inaccuracies and lack of factual basis. For instance, many individuals may envision the War of 1812 based on depictions in works such as “War and Peace” or films derived from the novel, even though it was written many years after the war took place.
Take into account different opinions
As personal opinions are inherently subjective, they may not always provide accurate information. When making decisions, it is advisable to consider multiple perspectives and arguments to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. Additionally, it may be beneficial to conduct independent research to fill any gaps in the information you have been presented with.
Practice active listening
In order to gain a deeper comprehension of an individual, it is beneficial to actively and empathetically listen to their words. By attempting to understand their perspective and motivations, one can develop a more comprehensive understanding of their experiences. It is important to listen without preconceptions or prejudices, as this can provide a more impartial view. Additionally, posing open-ended questions such as “why,” “how,” and “what” can elicit detailed responses and provide further insights.
Find reliable sources of information
Building a personalized collection of trusted news sources, websites, and influential figures is a valuable endeavor. It is essential to consider the origins of their information carefully. Anonymous sources, for instance, may be less dependable than authorized quotes, while a seller’s perspective may prioritize selling a product rather than impartial expertise. Prior to sharing news on social media, it is advisable to verify the credibility of the sources reporting it.
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