"Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments thereof are kept and preserved."
Memories, the instigator of intrigue, the epitome of complexity and the very bane of my existence. They’re such beautiful yet aggravating phenomena. Remembering or forgetting a memory could make or break friendships, relationships, or even your connection with the lady who walks her dog at 6 am every day whom you’ve spoken to exactly twice.
Memories are not the most trustworthy. They can change with time and context. Memory is also highly suggestible, which means that other people’s opinions and memories may influence what one remembers.
This is reflected in the concept of the Mandela Effect when a large number of people misremember a certain fact.
Origins & history of the Mandela Effect
About a decade ago, writer and researcher Fiona Broome conducted extensive research on South African President Nelson Mandela and the confusion surrounding his death.
Okay, here are the 2 scenarios; one is reality and the other is the Mandela effect:
Nelson Mandela died in prison in the 1980s. This was covered by international television .
Nelson Mandela died in 2013 after becoming president from 1994-1999.
If you guessed option 1 you are…
Incorrect. The answer is option 2.
But, what Broome realised is that she had distinct memories of Nelson Mandela’s death in the 1980’s, and so did a number of other people.
Examples of the Mandela Effect
Alright, let’s play a game! Below you’ll find a list of mandela effects. Or are they? Try to figure out which ones are actual mandela effects and which ones are false! (Answers are at the end of the article!)
Mickey Mouse actually has a tail.
The iconic quote isn’t “My name is Bond, James Bond”. It’s actually “It’s Bond, James Bond”.
The candy bar Kit Kat has no hyphen in its name.
A large number of people seem to remember Mr Monopoly from the board game Monopoly to not have a monocle when in reality he does.
Possible Explanations
Memory is highly malleable. We have spoken about how input from other people can change memories, causing people to misremember events or remember events that never happened. Therefore, a few potential causes of the Mandela effect are:
False Memories
Confabulations
Parallel Universes and Quantum Realities
Broome describes the Mandela effect as a clear memory of an event that never occurred in this reality. Due to the specification of “this reality”, some suggest that the Mandela Effect could be linked to parallel universes or alternate realities. According to this perspective, discrepancies in collective memories may be a result of individuals experiencing different versions of reality that occasionally intersect.
While these explanations draw upon real theories in physics, they lack scientific support. Some physicists, drawing on theories such as string theory, argue that there are infinite possible universes.
Scientists have not tested the claim that the Mandela effect provides evidence for multiple universes. Evidence from memory research suggests that other theories of false memory might better explain the phenomenon.
Wait a second!
As we are nearing the end of this post, I bring you the answers to our little game of examples of the Mandela Effect! Cue the drumroll! The answer is that…the second and fourth were false! The second one was just something I made up while the fourth one is actually a Mandela Effect switched around! The Mandela Effect is that Mr Monopoly is typically remembered to have had a monocle but he never had one!
Conclusion
The Mandela Effect is a fascinating theory, filled to the brim with conflict and conspiracy. Whether a product of cognitive quirks, societal influences, or something more extraordinary, the Mandela Effect serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in how we perceive and remember the world around us.