Imagination Inflation

Imagination inflation describes the memory fallacy in which the mental picturing or imagining of an event that didn't occur increases the individual's confidence that the event actually occurred. A person's confidence and belief that an event occurred that actually didn't increases after repeated imagining that the event actually happened. The more frequent the imagining of an event the stronger the confidence that it actually happened. This is an important concept in false memory research and criminal justice. Imagination inflation can occur by individuals repeatedly picturing a past event that didn't happen and causes them to believe it actually did occur.

Examples are 'repressed' memories that are actually false and false confessions to crimes that actually weren't committed by the individual confessing.