Abstract

The paper researches a cognitive memory biases and their role in mechanisms formation of the scientific myths. In the study, we found the mechanism of “imaginary regression to the mean” in the rebuilding of false memories. The true regression is a phenomenon that if a variable is extreme on its first measurement, it will tend to be closer to the average on its second measurement – and if it is extreme on its second measurement, it will tend to have been closer to the average on its firs. But “imaginary regression to the mean” is guided by the mechanism, which generates emotional memories depending on the event backdrop. If the events that surround us, overly negative, we tend to generate false-positive memories. If we are missing something “interesting”, we generated falsenegative memories and views. So false memories are guided not only by the displacement of unpleasant emotions, but adapted to the emotional background of a person on the principle of recovering the failure, the averaging of experiences. Further generation of scientific myths is constructed using the “cultural stream”. If the Creator of the myth is a source that is credible, people are spreading the information even after the denial. For example, the Russian media denied the information about “the crucified boy”, but in the minds of some people using “The Familiarity Backfire Effect” tag “myth” even after the denial has gone. This people will having a false belief that if media have once again said something about the crucified boy it will be only new some horrible details. Sometimes the generation and dissemination of scientific myths is not due to distortion sources, and using the usual logical errors. But to avoid this you just need to repeat more often the rules of logic.