Why we remember details years later - the psychology behind it!

Why we remember details years later - the psychology behind it!

The Bonn police are hunting for justice! Over 160 information has already been received on the mysterious case of Claudia Wilbert - an astonishing number for such an old cold case! What is behind these memories that are still alive even after years? Psychologists examine the fascinating mechanisms of our memory and show how emotions and stress shape our memories.

According to experts, our memory does not simply work like a memory, but selectively. We forget the everyday things, while we remember emotional experiences and extraordinary events. Stress can even help to save these memories even more clearly. But be careful! The risk of false memories hovers like a shadow over the investigation. If witnesses speak to others or read media reports after an incident, you can unconsciously insert false information in your memories. This creates the terrifying possibility that someone will be reminded of an event that has never taken place!

The shadows of false memories

How often do investigations due to such memory errors go wrong? There is no reliable number, but the tragedy of the Jennifer Thompson Fall from the USA shows how dangerous false memories can be. She identified an innocent as her rapist, who was then convicted. It was only years later that DNA tests demonstrated his innocence. Such cases throw a bright light on the fragility of our memories and the potential consequences for the judiciary.