I read a blog recently about why many people believe there are 52 states in the United States. A blog entitled “The Mandela Effect” explained that people remember certain events or facts differently. She is trying to advance this theory of the ever-changing memories could be alternate realities slippage. I’m skeptical, but she believes in it.
Confusion Over States
The blog post speculates that the belief in 52 states might arise out of confusion over Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. She wonders whether this is a mere mistake or alternate geography at work. She shares some tales from several readers to get the debate going.
The Ongoing Debate
Less than one-minute search online returned several places where the 50 vs. 52 states debate has occurred. There are mentions on Ask.com, Yahoo Answers, and even “Debunking the Mandela Effect.” Although I am not qualified in cartography, sociology, or psychology, I couldn’t help but throw my two cents into the mix.
Why Do Some People Think There Are 52 States?
One popular explanation on “The Mandela Effect” blog for why people believe there are 52 states is confusion over Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. [For the record, they aren’t states—at least not yet in this time-stream.] However, I don’t think that really explains it. Here’s why:
A Venn Diagram Insight
The overlap between people who think there are 52 states, people who know Puerto Rico is related to the U.S., and people who realize Washington D.C. isn’t just a city is very small. Here’s a Venn Diagram to illustrate:
The intersection isn’t zero, but it’s close.
Visual Factors
I’m no expert, but I do have a functioning frontal lobe. I believe the confusion is more related to visual factors. For instance, here’s a standard map of the U.S.—the kind people frequently encounter:
Visual Perception of States
If you know there are 50 states but don’t recall U.S. geography, you may just see a big shape cut into pieces. You probably won’t count the pieces. You could take a mental gamble and just sort of think you’ve got 50 states, then you notice two other kind of different looking areas. Over time, your brain could combine the conceptualization of 50 states together with the addition of these two other areas and come to assume 52 states.
How Memory Works
Another factor at play is how our memories work. Our brains process vast reams of information, mixing relevant pieces of information with irrelevant ones. Unless you have some cogent reason to remember precisely the number of states in the United States, you may vaguely recall it as something like “50-ish.” This vague recollection can mislead many people, Americans and non-Americans alike.
Why 52 and Not Another Number?
The number 52 may be memorable because there are 52 weeks in a year, which we learn early on when studying calendars. Also, the number 52 is known from the ordinary playing cards which have 52 cards in a deck. This number gets embedded, especially if you have played card games (for example, when your father taught you “52 pickup”; though I suspect many mothers wouldn’t inflict that game on their kids).
Memory and Accuracy
You are asked how many states there are, and you remember that it’s somewhere around 50. But you’d like to be precise. Your brain does an active search in its memory banks for the number and comes up with “52.” You don’t want to seem imprecise, so you give 52 because it’s so close to 50. In case someone disputes your answer, then your mind’s rationalizing mechanisms kick in to further convince you of your conviction.
Self-Justification
If you recently heard someone say that there are 52 states—even if the someone was you—then your brain may assume that that is a credible source. You begin to think of yourself as an expert on the subject and convince yourself that 52 is the right answer.
The Easy Explanation
Well, why do so many people believe there are 52 states? It’s not about alternate realities. It is a mix of memory recall, self-justification, and familiarity with the number 52. The answer lies straightforwardly and is name grounded in how our brains work.
Memory Mix-Up
When someone asks you how many states there are, you vaguely recall that it’s somewhere near 50 but try to be specific. Your brain, racing for a more concrete number, settles on “52.” Not wanting to wishy-washy, you fall back on 52 because it seems close enough to 50. This answer is plausible enough to be correct, so you respond with it.
Reinforcement Through Repetition
If you’ve recently been exposed to someone who said there are 52 states—whether that was you or someone else—your brain may A‑OK that as a piece of information. That’s how this repetition makes one more confident in their answer, tending to lock-in an answer of 52.
Common Cognitive Patterns
Many people don’t need to know the exact number of states, so their brains store an approximation. The number 52 sticks because it’s associated with familiar concepts, things like the 52 weeks in a year or a deck of cards. Indeed, it’s these kinds of familiar associations that really help solidify this mistaken number in your mind.
How the Mistake Works
Level of belief in 52 states doesn’t come from complex theories or parallel universes; it flows from memory confusion, reinforcement, and familiar numbers. How our brains do the processing and remember pieces of information holds the answer—not in any mystical or alternate universe.
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