What You Need to Know About the Misinformation Effect

I tend to forget some things often, as I’m sure you might too, but are our memories playing a role in that? I used to think that my memory power was good, but then with time, I realized it wasn’t as reliable as it used to be. Do you know why that happens? There’s a psychological phenomenon called the Misinformation Effect that might be responsible for this.

The misinformation effect tells us just how easily our memory recollections can be affected by false information. When we are told inaccurate details after an event, our minds unknowingly change our memories, sometimes even creating false ones.

In this post, we will talk about what this misinformation effect is (with examples), how it happens in real life, and how to reduce it.

What is the Misinformation Effect?

The misinformation effect is when our memories change when we get any misleading or inaccurate information. So basically, if you hear something incorrect after an event, your mind can mix it all up with your true memory, making you believe things that didn’t happen at all!

Psychologist Elizabeth Loftus and her research have shown how the misinformation effect can happen through eyewitness testimonies. The way a witness can be questioned after an event can shape how they remember the event. If a question includes a false or misleading detail, then it can change their first-hand memory.

An example of the misinformation effect in real life can be:

If you witness a car accident and later hear a news report suggesting that the driver was speeding. Even if you did not see the driver speeding, your mind will add this detail to your memory, making you believe it is true.

In a psychology experiment that Loftus conducted showed how this worked. The people in the experiment were asked to watch a video of a car accident and later were asked questions on what they saw. But, that wasn’t all!

Some people were asked questions about the speed of the cars when they “hit” each other while others were asked about the speed of the cars when they “smashed” into each other. The word “smashed” made a difference in the answers. People who heard “smashed” remembered the accident being more severe than it was.

A week later, researchers asked the people if they saw broken glass. Most people said no, but people who were asked the “smashed” question falsely remembered seeing broken glass (which wasn’t there!).

Despite this, this experiment shows that even small changes in wording can shape and affect our memories, proving that no matter what our memories can be unreliable.

Why Does The Misinformation Effect Happen?

No matter how many memory games you play, there’s no way that our memories can be dubbed perfect. Sometimes, they can be rewritten even without us knowing about it. So, why does this happen? Why do we experience the misinformation effect?

1. Sometimes, our true memories and the false information we hear later can get mixed up, making it hard to tell which was real and which wasn’t.
2. In many cases, the misinformed memory can replace the original memory too, making you remember something that never truly happened.
3. Studies also suggest that your brain can pull up newer information easily, so when you hear false details, you can recall those easily.
4. In some cases, you might not register all that occurred during an event, so later when you hear a misleading detail, your brain fills in the blanks, even if they are wrong.

Did you know that other factors can increase the chances of experiencing the misinformation effect?

1. Talking about an event with someone else can change your memories. If your friend sees something different, their version can mix with yours, changing your original memory.
2. Reading or watching news related to the event can also affect your memories. You may get confused about why you’ve read with what you’ve actually seen during the event.
3. The more you hear false details, the more you are to believe them. With time, misinformation can feel as real as the event itself.
4. As time passes, your original memories can fade, making new details that are easy to remember. If this happens, then the misleading memory can replace what truly happened in your mind.

Practical Ways to Reduce the Misinformation Effect

Now that you know that your memories can be changed, you can take some steps to reduce the misinformation effect:

Write the details

One of the best ways to keep your original memory is to write the details down immediately after the event. But, this doesn’t always work! If you make small errors in your notes, then your memory will be affected.

Know about the misinformation effect

Understanding how the misinformation effect happens can help you reduce it. No matter how sharp you keep your memories, you might not be immune to false information. Knowing how your memories can be changed can help.

Compare with reliable information

Since you might not always be able to tell false memories apart from original ones, you can try comparing your details with a reliable source or record. If you recall something different from others, then it could be a sign that your memory might have changed, so always cross-check information and details before coming to a conclusion.

Final Words:

So now that you know what the misinformation effect is and how it can affect how you remember things, you can rest easily knowing it isn’t always your fault for remembering things incorrectly.

Even though it’s tough to predict or protect yourself from the misinformation effect, there are some steps you can take to help keep your true memories safe from its influence.

In the end, all I can say is that memories are never perfect but can be a puzzle. The pieces can mix up as time goes on. The best you can do is stay sharp and question what you remember. It’s okay if you don’t recall everything 100%, just know that you always have help if you get stuck anywhere!