bizarreness effect

psychology

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July 20, 2026

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The bizarreness effect in psychology suggests that unusual or strange information is more memorable than ordinary information. This phenomenon is utilized in mnemonic devices, which are memory aids designed to help recall information.1

For example, when trying to remember a list of items, creating bizarre associations between them can enhance recall compared to using common associations. This principle is applied in various mnemonic techniques, such as the method of loci, linking, and the peg-word system, where the creation of vivid and unusual mental images aids in remembering. The term "bizarreness" itself refers to strangeness or unfamiliarity.12

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Later developments
…a phenomenon known as the bizarreness effect. The bizarreness effect holds that items associated with bizarre sentences or phrases are more readily recalled than those associated with common sentences or phrases. For example, a student might better remember the five main vowels of the English alphabet (A, E, I, O,…
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…a phenomenon known as the bizarreness effect. The bizarreness effect holds that items associated with bizarre sentences or phrases are more readily recalled than those associated with common sentences or phrases. For example, a student might better remember the five main vowels of the English alphabet (A, E, I, O,…
Read More