Ch. 9
4 of 1 ·Memory Rewrites Stories
Chapter 9 · Biases and Mind Traps
Lesson 4 · Biases and Mind Traps
Memory Rewrites Stories
Treat confident recollection as useful but imperfect evidence.
Easy~25 minFree preview
Concept
Memory is reconstruction, not replay
Memory combines what happened with later information, expectations and emotion. Confidence can increase even when detail becomes less accurate.
Example
The changed instruction
Click to zoomIllustration supporting The changed instructionAfter classmates discuss what a teacher probably said, several remember the discussed version. A dated note or recording can resolve the detail more reliably than confidence alone.