The Sleeper Effect: When Memory Misleads You

“I can't remember where I heard this, but…” We've all said it, and it seems harmless, but losing that context is precisely how unreliable information becomes believable. The sleeper effect is a common psychological phenomenon: over time, we retain the message but lose the memory of where it came from. Without the context, our brains accept it as fact, regardless of the source's credibility. In this episode, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist James Meachin to unpack why this happens and what we can do about it. Together, they explore how we assess the credibility of information, why source memory matters more today than ever before, and practical ways to counteract this mental shortcut. In a world where we're inundated with information from hundreds of channels, this episode gives you the tools to think more critically and share more responsibly. References: Kumkale, G. T., & Albarracín, D. (2004). The Sleeper Effect in Persuasion: A Meta-Analytic Review. Psychological Bulletin, 130(1), 143–172. A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking. Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP. Find out more at pearnkandola.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.