Cryptomnesia

As cryptomnesia (Greek κρυπτός kryptos "hidden" and μνήσης Mnesis "memory" ) understands the modern psychology, the phenomenon that forgotten or repressed memories and ideas recur surprisingly, similar to a déjà vu.

Terminology

Cryptomnesia focus mainly on memories and ideas that were long ago forgotten or suppressed and surprisingly emerge again after a certain time. Here, the human subconscious plays a big role: Seemingly useless or not actionable ideas, but also a particularly negative (or more positive ) memories are suppressed and stored in the subconscious mind and initially " disabled " to be called at a later date abruptly again. The person feels the recurring alarm / idea first as completely new to him either even think of again, that he is already before a certain time had once the memory / idea, or until it is pointed out by outsiders. The phenomenon may also relate to memories and ideas that are unconsciously taken over by non-members and perceived as their own and carried forward.

Another form of cryptomnesia is the revival of the forgotten in his sleep. For example, someone will find a long-lost object or a person after he has dreamed of its finding.

Problem

The phenomenon of unconsciously acquired ideas and memories that are perceived as separate and presented accordingly may, in society lead to problems in the form of allegations of plagiarism and the like. Especially the people affected by the cryptomnesia suffer the accusations because they actually have no memory of it, that they had taken over the ideas and thoughts of the victim.