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Psychological Phenomena

Memory Conformity

Memory Biases and Effects

Memory conformity, also called social contagion of memory, is the phenomenon in which memories or information reported by other people come to influence and become incorporated into a person's own memory. It is a memory error produced jointly by social influence and by underlying cognitive mechanisms, and it can be seen clearly in situations involving social interaction, such as eyewitness testimony, where the resulting suggestibility and errors in tracking the true source of a memory carry real legal and social consequences; it is one of several documented social influences on memory.

Facts
Classification
Type of Phenomenon
Cognitive Phenomenon 1
Type of Phenomenon
Social or Interpersonal Phenomenon 1
Core Claim
Memories or information reported by others influence an individual and are incorporated into the individual's own memory. 1
Sources
1. Memory conformity (Wikipedia)
  • Lead paragraph
    Memory conformity, also known as social contagion of memory, is the phenomenon where memories or information reported by others influences an individual and is incorporated into the individual's memory.
  • lead section, phenomenon-kind classification
    Social contamination of false memory can be exemplified in prominent situations involving social interactions, such as eyewitness testimony.
  • lead section, phenomenon-kind classification, additional value cognitive
    Social contamination of false memory can be exemplified in prominent situations involving social interactions, such as eyewitness testimony.
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