– if something is repeated enough it will be believed –
(even when it is completely untrue)
therapists have suggested things to Becki and Naomi
and their mother has said things to them to get revenge at me
(a divorce 25 years ago and she is angry that Tracey and I are happy)
a small number of other people have listened to Becki & Naomi
without checking the facts – this has re-inforced the false memories
all with the result that despite the real truth
false memories are being believed
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The illusory truth effect (also known as the illusion of truth effect, validity effect, truth effect, or the reiteration effect) is the tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposures.
We will all believe something
if it is repeated enough.
The illusory truth effect is the tendency for any statement that is repeated frequently – whether it is factually true or not, whether it is even plausible or not – to acquire the ring of truth. Studies show that repetition increases the perception of validity – even when people start out knowing that the information is false, or when the source of the information is known to be suspect.
The illusory truth effect was first established in a series of psychological studies reported in 1977. Under controlled conditions on a series of tests several weeks apart, researchers found that each time an untrue statement was repeated, participants’ confidence in the validity of the statement rose, while assessments of the validity of statements presented uniquely on each test never changed. Many studies since have validated the initial findings under an array of conditions.
Psychology Today
‘What Is the Illusory Truth Effect?’
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/illusory-truth-effect
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