Cryptomnesia

Cryptomnesia

Cryptomnesia can lead to unintentional plagiarism.

Cryptomnesia is a psychological phenomenon characterized by the inability to recognize that a memory is not an original thought, but rather a previously encountered idea or experience that has been forgotten. It occurs when a person mistakenly believes that a thought or idea they are currently experiencing is their own creation, when in fact it is a product of their subconscious memory. This can lead to unintentional plagiarism and the false belief of originality.

Causes and Mechanisms

The exact causes and mechanisms of cryptomnesia are not fully understood, but several theories have been proposed. One theory suggests that cryptomnesia occurs due to the way our brains store and retrieve memories. Memories are not stored as exact replicas of past experiences, but rather as a combination of various elements that are reconstructed during recall. This reconstruction process can sometimes lead to the misattribution of ideas or thoughts.

Another theory suggests that cryptomnesia may be related to the phenomenon of source monitoring errors. Source monitoring refers to the ability to accurately remember the source of a memory, such as whether it was self-generated or externally acquired. When source monitoring fails, individuals may mistakenly attribute a memory to their own creativity, even though it was actually derived from external sources.

Examples and Famous Cases

There have been several notable examples of cryptomnesia throughout history. One such case involves the famous composer George Harrison, who was accused of plagiarizing the melody of his song "My Sweet Lord" from the song "He's So Fine" by The Chiffons. Harrison claimed that he had unintentionally copied the melody due to cryptomnesia, as he had heard the song before but did not consciously remember it at the time of composition.

Another example is the case of Helen Keller, the renowned author and activist. Keller was accused of plagiarizing a story she had written, which was later discovered to be a nearly identical copy of a story written by another author. Keller claimed that she had no memory of reading the original story and believed that she had created it herself.

Prevention and Awareness

To prevent cryptomnesia and avoid unintentional plagiarism, it is important to develop good source monitoring skills. This includes keeping track of the sources of information and ideas encountered, as well as being mindful of one's own thought processes. Additionally, practicing proper citation and attribution techniques can help ensure that credit is given where it is due.

Increased awareness of cryptomnesia can also help individuals recognize and address the phenomenon. By understanding that our memories are not always reliable indicators of originality, we can be more cautious in our creative endeavors and take steps to verify the authenticity of our ideas.

See Also

• Memory
• Plagiarism
• Source Monitoring
• George Harrison
• Helen Keller