Memory Biases Vocabulary

remembering the past as better than it was

“Rosy retrospection makes us think our college years were nothing but fun.”

Origin: From `rose-colored glasses` metaphor + Latin retrospicere `to look back`

judging experiences based on their peak intensity and how they ended

“The peak-end rule explains why a vacation is remembered fondly despite rain most days.”

Origin: Old English pic `point` + Latin regula `rule`

a recollection that seems real but is fabricated or distorted

“Eyewitness testimony can be unreliable due to false memory formation.”

Origin: Latin falsus `deceived, erroneous` + memoria `memory`

a forgotten memory returning without recognition as such

“His 'original' melody was cryptomnesia—he'd heard it years ago and forgotten.”

Origin: Greek kryptos `hidden` + mnesis `memory`

misattributing the source of a memory

“Source confusion made her think she read it in the newspaper when a friend told her.”

Origin: Latin confusio `mingling together` from confundere `to pour together`

losing details while emphasizing others when retelling

“Through leveling and sharpening, the fishing story grew more dramatic with each telling.”

Origin: Old English lefel `an instrument for measuring` + scearpian `to make sharp`

post-event information altering memory of the original event

“Leading questions demonstrated the misinformation effect in eyewitness testimony.”

Origin: Old French mes- `wrongly` + Latin informare `to shape, form`

enhanced recall of events from adolescence and early adulthood

“The reminiscence bump explains why we remember songs from our teenage years best.”

Origin: Latin reminisci `to remember` + bump `a swelling`

perceiving recent events as more remote and remote events as more recent

“The telescoping effect made it seem like years since the party that was only months ago.”

Origin: Greek tele `far off` + skopein `to look` + Latin effectus

older adults favoring positive over negative information in memory

“The positivity effect means grandparents genuinely remember more good than bad.”

Origin: Latin positivus `settled by agreement` + effectus `accomplishment`