Which concept describes how our expectations can shape our recollections?

The concept that describes how our expectations can shape our recollections is bias. Bias in memory refers to the influence of our beliefs, expectations, and previous experiences on how we interpret and recall information. For example, if someone has a preconceived notion about an event, their recollection of that event may be altered to fit their expectations, potentially leading to inaccuracies in their memories.

In psychological terms, biases can manifest in various forms, such as confirmation bias, where individuals favor information that confirms their existing beliefs, or hindsight bias, where people believe they predicted an event after it has already occurred. This illustrates how memory is not a perfect recording of experiences but rather a reconstruction influenced by numerous factors, including expectations. This understanding is essential in recognizing the malleability of memory and the potential for distortion based on cognitive biases.