Quck answer
The Mandela Effect is a phenomenon where a large group of people remember an event or fact differently from how it actually occurred. It is named after Nelson Mandela, as many people believed he died in prison in the 1980s, even though he was released and became the President of South Africa. This collective memory distortion can be attributed to various factors such as false memories, misinformation, and social influence. The Mandela Effect has gained popularity through the internet and has sparked debates about the nature of reality and human memory.
Do you have confidence in your own recollections? We are all aware that our memories tend to fade over time. Many individuals even lose their memories due to illnesses. However, did you know that some individuals have completely false memories? They recall events that never actually occurred. Sometimes, multiple individuals have the same false memory. When this happens, it is often referred to as the Mandela Effect.
This term was first coined in 2013. During that year, the civil rights leader Nelson Mandela passed away. However, thousands of people remembered him dying in the 1980s. They claimed to have watched his funeral on television. However, in reality, Mandela lived to be 95 years old.
Despite this, thousands of people insisted that Mandela passed away in the 1980s while he was imprisoned by the South African government. They shared similar stories about his funeral, which they claimed to have seen on TV. How could this be? How could so many people have the same false memory?
Some individuals suggest that the Mandela Effect occurs because we live in a multiverse. In the multiverse, there are other universes that exist alongside ours. These other worlds may look similar to ours, but they are different. Major world events turned out differently or never occurred at all. In one universe, the Industrial Revolution never took place. In another, dinosaurs still roam the Earth. In a different universe, the Beatles were a complete failure. In yet another universe, America lost its revolution.
There might even be a universe in the multiverse where South Africa’s Apartheid government never released Nelson Mandela from prison. He never became the first president of South Africa. Instead, he died in the 1980s. In that universe, people all around the world witnessed his funeral on TV.
Then, thousands of people from that universe somehow crossed over to ours. Here, they once again witnessed his funeral in 2013. How did this happen? There is no explanation, and that is why many people do not believe this theory.
Most experts explain the Mandela Effect using brain science. When we form memories, our brains organize them into groups. Each group contains memories that are similar to one another. Sometimes, our brains make mistakes. They mix up two similar memories. That is why people thought Nelson Mandela died in the 1980s. They knew he was imprisoned during that time. For some reason, they confused his imprisonment with his death.
This could explain why so many people in 2013 believed that Nelson Mandela was already deceased. But would it also explain why all those people provided similar descriptions of his funeral? Could all of those people have mixed up the same two memories?
There are numerous other examples of the Mandela Effect. Have you ever seen the Mona Lisa? Many people recall the woman in the painting having a frown. Others argue that she had a neutral expression. If you look at the Mona Lisa today, she is smiling. Have you ever read a series of children’s books about The Berenstein Bears? No, you have not. In our reality, the books are about The Berenstain Bears, spelled with an “a” instead of an “e.” However, thousands of people insist that they remember the name being spelled differently.
Are these false memories the result of confusion, or is there another explanation? Is there another universe where a different version of the Mona Lisa frowns? Or perhaps a universe where Pluto is still considered a planet? Without evidence, we cannot say for certain!
Give It a Try
Before attempting these activities, find a friend or family member to join you!
- Take a look at these other instances of the Mandela Effect. Have a discussion about them with a friend or family member. Have you experienced any of these false memories? What do you believe is the most plausible explanation?
- Nelson Mandela served as an inspiration to millions during his lifetime and continues to do so today. Read more about Nelson Mandela. Afterward, compose a letter to a friend where you explain the three most significant things you have learned about Nelson Mandela.
- Imagine if we actually live in a multiverse. Is it possible for any of us to enter a different reality at any given time? Write a story in which you venture into another universe. How does this new reality compare to the one you currently inhabit? How will you find your way back? Describe your adventure in detail.
Sources of Wonder
- http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2017/02/16/mandela-effect-false-memories/#.XIa4VYhKg2w (accessed March 11, 2019)
- https://www.famousscientists.org/what-is-the-multiverse-theory/ (accessed March 11, 2019)
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/capitalone/2017/10/31/the-mandela-effect-bad-memories-or-an-alternate-universe/#3321d51d2e5d (accessed March 11, 2019)
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