Mandela effect, or why you can not trust your memory

In 1962, Stan and his wife Jane Berenstein published a children's book titled "The Big Honey Hunt" (The Big Honey Hunt), which was the first in a popular series of books about berensteynskih cubs (The Berenstain Bears). Subsequently, there was still more than 300 books, two animated TV series based on their stories, as well as toys and accessories dedicated to the heroes of the books.

In December 2013, he died legendary human rights activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela. He died of a respiratory illness at his home in a suburb of Johannesburg.

What is common between these cases?

With each of these events, contrary to the official data, different people have different memories connected.

Many believe that the original title of the series berensteynskih cubs written as The Berensteor even in Bears The Bernstein Bears, not The Berenstain Bears.

Another well-known example - the legendary scene in the fifth episode of "Star Wars" in which Darth Vader allegedly says «I am your father, Luke». But in fact, the phrase sounds different:

With regard to the death of Nelson Mandela, thousands of people around the world claim that in fact he died in prison. In honor of this phenomenon of collective memories, contrary to the facts, and has been called "Mandela effect".

Why there Mandela effect

The term was introduced into use by Fiona Broome (Fiona Broome) in 2005. During one event, she learned that several people in the same way as she did remember that Nelson Mandela did not die at home, and in prison. It spodvignulo Broome and other like-minded people to gather and explore other alternatives memories.

For example, there are different memories of the number of States, on New Zealand's location in relation to Australia, the logos of well-known companies or the chronology of significant events.

Fiona Broome, while engaged in the study of this phenomenon, I could not call him the exact cause. There are many theories as quite real and mystical.

For example, some alternative memories explain the existence of parallel worlds in which events occur differently than we do.

However, there is a more scientific study of this phenomenon, such as the substitution of memories.

Why do not all memories can trust

Every time we have to remember something, we change the memory and how to overwrite it. This means that over time, under the influence of internal and external factors, it is undergoing significant transformation.

According to many studies, a person is able to remove the memory of the memory, or replace it with another to invent an entirely new memory. This happens if a person wants, for example, forget about a heavyweight event in his life.

Thus, Mandela effect may simply be the result of faulty memory, formed by the man who has convinced himself that he was right.

People tend to trust their own memories, but they can sometimes play a dirty trick on us.

See also:

• Why is our memory can not be relied →
• How to erase the memories, or to forget irrelevant information →
• Good habit: how to keep the good memories →