Mandela Effect

【EMI X Psychology】

Welcome to the EMI X Psychology series. In this series, we aim to explore fascinating psychological phenomena that are widely discussed in the English-speaking world. Today, we delve into the intriguing phenomenon known as the Mandela Effect. 

Does Pikachu have a black stripe on its tail? Does Mr. Monopoly wear a monocle? If your answer is “yes”, unfortunately, you are wrong. What you might be experiencing is called the “Mandela Effect.” 

The “Mandela Effect” refers to the phenomenon of a collective false memory, where a large group of people remembering an event that never happened. The term originated from Fiona Broome, a paranormal researcher, who recalled Nelson Mandela's supposed death in prison during the 1980s, despite his actual passing in 2013 after serving as South Africa's President.. Broome then noticed many others also seemed to have this false memory, hence coining the phenomenon. 

So, why do so many people misremember the same thing? Scientists have not yet found one clear explanation for this phenomenon, however, much speculation has been done surrounding it.

One popular theory among psychologists suggests the secret lies in the way our brains form memories. People tend to remember things the way they think they should be rather than they actually are. We may also conjure up false memories based on suggestions or misinformation from others around us. This is even more evident with the Internet and social media playing large parts in the spread of misinformation nowadays. We may see incorrect details of an event on the Internet, then go on to incorporate these into our memories as facts.

Other theories include those based on the concept of multiverse, where things might change slightly in parallel realities. What do you think is the cause? Do you have other examples of the Mandela Effect? Leave a comment and share this interesting phenomenon with your friends!

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