What is a common misconception individuals have about their vivid memories from major events?

Individuals often believe that their vivid memories from major events are entirely accurate and represent the truth of what occurred. This belief stems from the strong emotional and sensory experiences associated with significant events, leading people to feel confident in their recollections. However, research in cognitive psychology highlights that while such memories can feel compelling and lifelike, they are not always reliable. Factors like the passage of time, the influence of outside information, and the way our brains reconstruct memories can lead to distortions. This misconception about the accuracy of our memories can have implications, particularly in areas such as eyewitness testimony, where individuals may confidently recount details that are, in fact, incorrect.

The other options touch on aspects of memory but do not encapsulate the widespread belief in the infallibility of one’s memories associated with major emotional events, making the idea that we recall everything accurately a key misconception.