The Mandela Effect
Psych 🧠 - 266/300
Reader,
What are the odds that you have heard of this term before? I feel they are not zero. But what does it really mean?
Let’s understand what it is with an example from Pokémon.
What is it?
The Mandela Effect is when many people remember something in a way that's different from how it actually happened. It's like a big shared memory mistake.
For example, many people remember a popular children's book series about a family of bears as the "BerenstEin Bears," but it's actually spelled "BerenstAin Bears."
Personal experience
- Onix: Onix is a long, snake-like Pokémon made of rock and ground types. It's been part of the Pokémon franchise since the beginning.
- Onyx: Now, here's where the Mandela Effect comes into play. Some people remember a variation of Onix, but with a "Y" in the name, spelling it as "Onyx."
They may even recall this version from the original Pokémon games and cards.
The twist is that there's no Pokémon named "Onyx" in the official Pokémon universe.
The correct name has always been "Onix" without the "Y." The presence of the Mandela Effect is in how many individuals have shared this incorrect memory, thinking that they once encountered or collected a Pokémon named "Onyx." 😭
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What do I need to know?
Here are some key points about the Mandela Effect:
Collective Memory Mistake: It happens when a lot of people remember an event, detail, or fact incorrectly in the same way.
Differing Reality: The memories don't match the actual historical or factual records. It's like people remember an alternative version of the past.
Common Examples: Besides the Berenstain/Berenstein Bears, other examples include people remembering Nelson Mandela dying in prison (he didn't), or thinking that the Monopoly Man has a monocle (he doesn't).
Causes: The reasons behind the Mandela Effect are debated, with some suggesting it's due to the fallibility of human memory, while others entertain more intriguing possibilities, like parallel universes.
Fascinating Phenomenon: The Mandela Effect is a curious look at how our memories can sometimes play tricks on us, making us question the reliability of our own recollections.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/09/230914175140.htm