I remember some recent year events earlier than it is now written

In summary, the conversation discusses the events of the murder of George Floyd, Kenosha unrest shooting, and Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, which all occurred in the year 2020. The individual posting about these events questions why they remember hearing about them before they actually occurred and wonders if false memories could have been created. They also mention the possibility of news reports of prior incidents influencing their memory.

When do you remember having first read about these events?

  • 2020

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • 2019

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2018

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2017

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2016

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • earlier than 2016

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2021

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2022

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    1
  • #1
olgerm
Gold Member
533
34
Oddly I remember having read about these events before (beginning of) year 2020.

murder of George Floyd: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_George_Floyd
Kenosha unrest shooting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenosha_unrest_shooting
Capitol Hill Occupied Protest: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Hill_Occupied_Protest

I do not want to argue about these events or politics related to these. I am posting about these because it just seems so weird, that I surely remember having read about these events earlier than these are now said(in every source that I read) to have happened. Any ideas why I might remember time of these so wrongly if these really occured in 2020? When do you remember having heard/read about these for first time?
 
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  • #2
It may be that in listening to the news reports of these events, you heard about prior incidents and their dates got attached to this incident.

A curious feature of memory is that when you recall something the brain reads it and rewrites it. It’s possible in those moments to rewrite it slightly different creating a false memory. This has been used to help people overcome fears but interrupting the rewrite during a recall and implanting an altered memory.
 

FAQ: I remember some recent year events earlier than it is now written

What could cause someone to remember events as happening earlier than they are currently documented?

Several factors can contribute to this phenomenon, including the malleability of human memory, cognitive biases, and the influence of external information. Memory is not a perfect recording of events; it is reconstructive, meaning it can be influenced by new information, suggestions, and personal beliefs.

Is there a psychological term for remembering events earlier than they actually occurred?

Yes, this phenomenon can be related to "false memory" or "time compression." False memories involve recalling events that did not happen or remembering them differently from how they occurred. Time compression is a specific type of memory distortion where the timing of events is perceived as closer together than they actually are.

Can external sources influence the perception of when events occurred?

Absolutely. Media, social interactions, and even the way questions are framed can influence one's memory. For example, if a person frequently hears or reads incorrect information about the timing of an event, they may start to believe and remember it as happening at that time.

Are there any known cognitive biases that might explain this memory distortion?

Yes, several cognitive biases can contribute to this distortion. The "misinformation effect" occurs when a person's recall of an event becomes less accurate due to post-event information. "Anchoring" can also play a role, where initial information serves as a reference point and influences subsequent judgments and memories.

Can this memory distortion have any significant impacts on daily life or decision-making?

While minor memory distortions are common and usually harmless, significant distortions can impact decision-making, relationships, and even legal outcomes. For example, incorrect recollections of dates and events can affect personal and professional commitments, historical understanding, and eyewitness testimonies in legal settings.

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