Cognitive Scaffold

Preparing your thinking workspace

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MENTAL MODEL · M5389

False Memory

False Memory
BehaviorHigh supportPsychology
Included
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

Human memory is not a video playback but a reconstruction. During recall, memory is highly susceptible to suggestion, imagination, and subsequent information, which can distort it. We can even vividly 'remember' events that never occurred.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

The plasticity of memory. When arguing about 'facts', do not be overly confident in your own memory, nor trust witnesses' testimony too much. Memory is an unreliable narrative. When making important records, trust written documents (archives) over memory.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Human memory can be suggested and reorganized to remember events that never occurred. False memories are especially easy to generate under hypnosis or misleading questioning.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

  • link
    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_memoryZH · Explicit
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