The Mandela effect: Why do we misremember things?

Remember that famous scene in the popular American sitcom The Office, where the employees are trying to figure out if Stanley has a mustache or not? The whole office is confused about a very stark physical attribute of an office colleague they see every day!

While it was definitely a funny scene, this happens to us more than we would like to admit. This is the Mandela effect The Mandela Effect refers to a shared, collective misremembering of facts, events, or details, often by groups of people. It’s not just an individual mistake; it’s entire communities recalling the same event incorrectly.

Some of the most well-known examples include:

• Thums Up logo: A common misconception most people have is its spelled as "Thumbs Up." The brand name has always been"Thums Up," without the 'b

• Lions on the National Emblem: Do you remember how many lions are on the Ashoka Pillar? Most people remember it as 4, but actually, it's always been 3.

• Pikachu’s tail: Pokémon fans often remember Pikachu’s tail having a black tip, but it never did.

• "Kit Kat" Logo: People recall the Kit-Kat chocolate bar logo featuring a hyphen between the words "Kit" and "Kat". The actual logo has never included a hyphen.

Why do we misremember?

Here’s where things get interesting. Memory isn’t a perfect recording device. Unlike a camera that captures everything precisely, our memories are more like a puzzle that sometimes doesn’t quite fit together the way we think it should. Our brains are constantly reconstructing memories, filling in gaps, and occasionally making mistakes.

The result? False memories. When we recall an event, we don’t always have all the details at hand. Our minds naturally try to fill in those gaps with information that seems to match the rest of the story—even if it’s inaccurate. This explains why we might be convinced something happened, only to discover it didn’t. This happens all the time, whether we’re remembering a conversation, a song lyric, or a moment from childhood.

The power of cognitive biases

But it’s not just random memory blunders. Cognitive biases play a major role in how we remember things. One of the most influential biases is confirmation bias. When we believe something to be true, our brains are more likely to accept information that confirms our beliefs, even if it’s false.

This bias can cause us to confidently recall details that never actually happened. The more we find others who share our misremembered details, the stronger our conviction that we’re right.

In the case of the Mandela Effect, the collective nature of it is what makes it especially fascinating. When large groups misremember the same event or fact, it creates a shared illusion of truth. The more people recall something in the same way, the stronger the belief in that version of reality becomes.

Misinformation in the age of social media

The Mandela Effect is even more potent in the age of social media. Online platforms make it easy for people to share experiences, and once a few individuals start discussing a shared misremembered event, it spreads quickly.

The more people validate each other’s “incorrect” memories, the more that false recollection starts to feel like the truth. It’s a fascinating—and occasionally unsettling—reminder of how easily false beliefs can snowball.

How collective misjudgment shapes investment decisions

The Mandela Effect can offer a unique lens through which we can look at investing. A classic example of this was the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s.

During that time, many investors believed that any company with an online presence would inevitably be successful, regardless of whether it had solid profits or a clear business model. This widespread optimism, despite shaky fundamentals, drove stock prices to unsustainable levels. When the bubble burst, it became clear that the market had been fueled by collective misjudgment, much like how people can feel certain about a memory that turns out to be completely wrong.

The same thing happened during the housing bubble of the mid-2000s. There was a general belief that real estate prices would continue to rise without end. People thought property was a sure bet, and both investors and homeowners were quick to buy, often stretching their finances far beyond what was reasonable.

Just like the mistaken memories tied to the Mandela Effect, this shared confidence in the housing market led to risky decisions, and when the bubble finally popped, it left many people reeling. In both cases, the reality was much different than the shared belief, and it served as a harsh reminder that collective misperceptions can cloud judgment—whether it’s about history or the market.

Final thoughts

The Mandela Effect pushes us to rethink how we perceive memory and reality. So, the next time you’re convinced about a particular detail, take a moment to pause and wonder: Could it be that your memory is playing tricks on you, just like millions of others?