A New Memory Phenomenon: The Mandela Effect

Have you ever discovered one of your memories wasn’t actually true? Maybe you remembered a brand that never existed, or remember seeing a picture you never saw. This is actually quite common, and there are instances when many people all misremember the same information.

This phenomenon is known as the Mandela Effect. It was recently coined in 2009 vy a paranormal expert Fiona Broome in reference to so many people misremembering Nelson Mandela passing away in 1980. Today, the Mandela Effect is recognized as an umbrella term to describe many types of memory phenomenon. Some people feel as though the Mandela Effect could be a government conspiracy, but there are actually very compelling explanations behind it.

The most widely accepted explanation for the Mandela Effect is asch conformity. When a large group of people believe one way, you are more likely to agree with them in order to fit in. The longer you conform to certain beliefs, the more likely you are to experience a source-memory error. This occurs when you forget the true source of a memory, and it can lead to you believing that you held these beliefs all along. 

It can be disorienting to learn your memories may not be true, but there are steps you can take to avoid the Mandela Effect in your own life. Read more about these strategies in the infographic below:

Mandela Effect
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