CRYPTOMNESIA Meaning and
Definition
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Cryptomnesia can be defined as a psychological phenomenon where a person unconsciously believes or claims that a newly encountered idea, thought, or memory is original and their own, despite it actually being previously learned or experienced but forgotten. This term was coined by the French psychologist Théodore Flournoy in the late 19th century.
In cryptomnesia, individuals erroneously attribute the source of a thought or creation to their own mind, failing to recognize that it was actually stored in their memory from past experiences, previous reading, or exposure to external sources. It is often considered a type of memory distortion or misattribution.
This phenomenon can occur due to the way the human mind processes and stores information. Memories may become fragmented or dissociated, making it difficult to accurately recall the original source of an idea or thought. When these forgotten memories resurface, individuals may mistakenly perceive them as original, leading to a misguided belief in their own creativity or intellectual capacity.
Cryptomnesia can have implications in various fields, such as literature, music, art, and scientific research, where individuals may unintentionally reproduce or develop ideas that have already been explored or created by others. Nonetheless, it is important to note that cryptomnesia is typically a result of unconscious processes rather than intentional plagiarism.
Overall, cryptomnesia is a phenomenon that highlights the complexities of memory and the potential for unintentional misattribution of ideas or thoughts.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CRYPTOMNESIA
- xryptomnesia
- vryptomnesia
- fryptomnesia
- dryptomnesia
- ceyptomnesia
- cdyptomnesia
- cfyptomnesia
- ctyptomnesia
- c5yptomnesia
- c4yptomnesia
- crtptomnesia
- crgptomnesia
- crhptomnesia
- cruptomnesia
- cr7ptomnesia
- cr6ptomnesia
- cryotomnesia
- cryltomnesia
- cry-tomnesia
- cry0tomnesia
Etymology of CRYPTOMNESIA
The word "cryptomnesia" is derived from two individual terms: "crypto" and "mneme", both originating from Greek.
1. Crypto: The term "crypto" comes from the Greek word "kruptos" (κρυπτός) meaning "hidden" or "secret". It is commonly used to denote secrecy or concealment in various contexts.
2. Mneme: The term "mneme" comes from the Greek word "mnēmē" (μνήμη), which means "memory". In Greek mythology, Mneme was one of the three original muses who personified memory.
Similar spelling words for CRYPTOMNESIA
- graptomancy,
- cryptomonas.
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