Misinformation effect
Our memory of an event becomes less accurate after we take in misleading information about it later, such as news reports, other people's accounts or the wording of a question. The new details quietly blend into the original memory.
In everyday life
After reading online that the robber at a local store had a beard, a customer who saw him clean-shaven now remembers a beard.
Weeks after witnessing a car crash, you read another witness's post that mentions a stop sign at the corner, and now you picture that sign clearly, though the corner actually had a yield sign.
Why your mind does this
We cannot hold every moment of an experience or every item in a list in mind. The brain keeps a few standout pieces, such as the most intense moment, the ending, or the first and last items, and lets them stand for the whole. This makes memories compact and quick to use.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Key elements
How to spot it
Ask whether a detail you remember came from the event itself or from something you read or heard about it later.
How to counter it
If you witnessed something that matters, write down your own account before you read coverage or talk it over with others.