misinformation effect

The misinformation effect occurs when a person's memory of an event is altered by misleading information encountered after the event. For example, if someone witnesses a car accident and later hears inaccurate details about the crash, they might incorporate these false details into their memory. This phenomenon shows how memories are malleable and can be reshaped by external information, which can sometimes lead to inaccuracies in recalling the original event. It highlights the importance of accurate information and careful questioning, especially in settings like eyewitness testimony.