14 memory traps, which change our past and affect the future

Cognitive distortions - it biases thinking, influencing judgments and decisions. Examples of such traps exist a bunch ofAnd some of them are linked to our memory errors.

The idea that the future is unpredictable, every day is refuted by the ease with which, in our opinion, can be explained by the past.

Daniel Kahneman, an Israeli-American psychologist and Nobel laureate

We believe that our memory We will not fail, focus on it. But it is full of pitfalls that can affect future actions. Some traps are aimed at improving self-esteem, to protect us and help maintain a positive mindset. Others may seem innocuous at first glance, but in fact is an obstacle to making the right decisions.

1. False memory or paramnesia

This memory impairment is manifested in the distortion of existing memories. Filling the gaps in memory is compensated by false memories: the events occurred in reality significantly shifted in time, it seems the fictional reality. Paramnesia can be caused by mental disorders. It can also occur during treatment of amnesia.

However, there are instances when false memories are ingrainedCreating False Memories " during a session of psychotherapy. Nurse Nadine Kuhl went to a psychiatrist, so he helped her to cope with the experiences of the trauma of her daughter. Doctors used hypnosis and other suggestive techniques, turning even exorcism. As a result, he inspired Nadine that she belonged to a satanic cult, was raped and all she had 120 different personalities.

When Nadine realized that psychiatrist inspired her false memories of events, which actually was not, she gave him to court for criminal negligence and received compensation of 2.4 million dollars.

2. cryptomnesia

Sometimes we remember the information, but we forget its source. And, as a consequence, we give out the memory of the product of our imagination, and are engaged in an unconscious plagiarism. For example, we hum the melody that once heard, taking her by the composed by us.

This can be a very old memory, suddenly appeared in my head and perceived as something new, just invented by us personally.

3. Confusion with the source of information

We think we remember the situation as it was witnessed, in fact, we talked about it the other person, we read about it in the newspaper or heard on television.

The resulting information from external sources can sit down in our heads and pretend to be a memory, based on personal experience.

4. misinformation effect

Information received later distorts previous memories of the event. This cognitive bias refers to retroactive interference.

If they give us a new false information about an event that we remember in their own way, and perhaps even where the person were present, it will be accepted as true. A recollection of the original change.

5. Retrospective distortion or error hayndsayta

This is also called a trap, "I knew it!". We characterize the events occurred as the obvious and foreseeable, building on current knowledge.

We remember the situation as if it was obvious outcome in advance, although the decisive factors became known only when an event has occurred.

It would seem that nothing terrible mistake hayndsayta not. But this is not true: people who are inclined to repeat it again and again, become overly self-confident, do not analyze, "predict" situation, the outcome of which they allegedly knew in advance. That could push to rash decisions, the outcome of which will be foresee by analogy with the past. In reality, of course, it is not.

6. Retrospective through rose-colored glasses

The phenomenon in which we remember events from the past in a more positive key than it was in reality.

We look at the experience gained through the prism of rose-colored glasses, even if at that moment it seemed that happens to us is not the most pleasant.

This is due to the fact that over time, we stop to focus on the little things, and recall the event as a whole.

This is confirmed by experimentTemporal Adjustments in the Evaluation of Events: The "Rosy View"In which the subjects described their vacation right after it and after some time. The first feedback includes specific fragments that study participants perceived as negative. But after a time their memories became more positive, and points marked earlier as a negative, not even mentioned.

7. Distortion has a particular place

In situations where we certainly appreciate their abilities above average, we store your results as the best in comparison with the results of others. Conversely, when we give ourselves assessment below average, then remember myself as shown worse outcomes than others demonstrated.

8. telescope effect

Events that took place long ago, seem to us recently (direct telescope), while recent - more distant (reverse telescope).

The starting point for the telescope effect - three years. Events that occurred more than three years ago, the fall in the category of direct telescope, and at least three - to the contrary. Perception of what happened at the junction of three years, may move both forward and backward.

9. egocentric distortion

In the memoirs of our merits are exaggerated, especially when it comes to comparison with the achievements of others. And we remember their own success differently than they remember the rest.

We are much easier to remember information if it is relevant to us - this is called self-reference effect.

To pamper your own egoWe often ascribe to ourselves a few extra points: passed the test better than actually invested in a joint project of more than our partner.

ExcessiveA bias puts at center of everything " egocentricity may be a sign of anxiety and nervous disorders of human and minimized feeling of self-importance - a signal of the doldrums.

10. generating effect or self-generation

It is easier to recall information that is generated by ourselves. We are more likely to remember what was said us than what we have heard or read.

The fact that the process of creation of the information more difficult than it audio or visual perception. We need to make greater efforts to generate information rather than to consider it, as it contributes to a better recall.

11. The expediency of choice

We remember and exaggerate the positive characteristics of the chosen goods, ignoring the negative arguments.

In fact, we simply justify their choice, even if it was not the best.

You can give an example from life: choosing between a number of goods and bought the only one we will remember its performance to be better than they actually are, forgetting about the shortcomings. While on this product, which we did not buy, we will remember most in a negative way, making emphasis on the shortcomings.

12. context effect

We remember the individual elements in the context of generalizing events or situations. In our memory stores a set of external factors and our own sensations and perceptions. For example, the student will be easier to take exam and learned to play the information if the preparation for it was held in a room, close the interior to the exam room.

This effect works when we remember a specific location, time of year or a particular smell. Together with them in the memory can be any detail associated with a particular episode of life.

This memory trap - a fertile ground for marketers. Consumers are more likely to buy those products, familiarity with which was in a pleasant environment. After all, they remember not only the product, but also everything that surrounds it, as well as your own emotional state.

13. The effect of smoothing and sharpening

When information is stored in the smoothing memory in simplified form, without specifics and details. We remember the context and general data.

When sharpening the situation is exactly the opposite: we remember fragments and distinguish the essential details available in the information memory.

14. negative memories fade effect

We are faster and are more willing to forget the bad than the good. researchers believeThe Fading Affect Bias: But What the Hell Is It For "?That it is necessary for our self-esteem and stimulating positive emotions.

However, the damping effect is not subject to people who are prone to depression.

This memory trap - a kind of protection against the negative memories. It helps to generate positive thinking and enhance motivation.

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