The real genius of the movie isn’t that it’s a straightforward “whodunit,” but rather that it explores the idea that everyone could be telling the truth—as they remember or perceive it. It’s not necessarily about lying, but about how our perspectives can shape the way we recall events. The Rashomon Effect, named after this cinematic masterpiece, has since become a term used in psychology, law, and even pop culture to describe situations where multiple people offer conflicting accounts of the same event
The Rashomon Effect: When Everyone’s Truth is the Truth (or Not?)
Have you ever heard three different versions of the same story, and they all seem completely accurate—but wildly different? That’s the Rashomon Effect in action. It’s when several people experience the same event but recall it in different, sometimes conflicting, ways. While that sounds a bit like a detective mystery or a juicy reality TV drama, the Rashomon Effect is actually a fascinating concept in psychology and philosophy that digs deep into how we perceive reality. It’s a reminder that “truth” can be surprisingly subjective.
But where did this idea come from? Let’s travel back in time to the 1950s Japan and the world of cinema.
A Movie that Changed Everything: The Origins of the Rashomon Effect
The term “Rashomon Effect” comes from the 1950 Japanese film Rashomon, directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film was groundbreaking not only for its visual style but also for the way it told its story. The plot of Rashomon revolves around an incident in which a samurai is murdered, and there are four different witnesses to the event: a bandit, the samurai’s wife, the samurai himself (who speaks through a medium—because why not?), and a woodcutter. Each witness provides a completely different version of what happened, and by the end of the movie, you’re left scratching your head. Who’s telling the truth?
The real genius of the movie isn’t that it’s a straightforward “whodunit,” but rather that it explores the idea that everyone could be telling the truth—as they remember or perceive it. It’s not necessarily about lying, but about how our perspectives can shape the way we recall events. The Rashomon Effect, named after this cinematic masterpiece, has since become a term used in psychology, law, and even pop culture to describe situations where multiple people offer conflicting accounts of the same event.
How Does the Rashomon Effect Work?
We like to think that our memories are like video recorders, capturing events exactly as they happen. But reality check: that’s not how our brains work. Memory is a tricky thing. It’s affected by emotions, personal biases, our relationships to the people involved, and even our social standing. When several people witness the same event, each of them brings their own unique perspective, and this shapes how they recall what happened.
One of the psychological explanations for the Rashomon Effect is that we all filter reality through our own experiences. For example, if you’re in a stressful or emotionally charged situation, you might remember things differently than someone who was calm and relaxed at the time. This isn’t about dishonesty; it’s just how humans are wired. Our minds are constantly filling in gaps, reinterpreting details, and prioritizing information based on what we think is important.
To complicate things further, when people share their recollections of an event, they may unintentionally start to shape their memories to fit what others say—or they might double down on their own version, convinced that they’re right and everyone else is wrong.
Examples of the Rashomon Effect in Everyday Life
The Rashomon Effect isn’t just limited to murder mysteries or psychological studies. It happens all the time in everyday life, from family disputes to historical events. Here are a few examples where you might encounter it:
- The Family Dinner Debate
Picture this: your family is sitting around the dinner table, reminiscing about that one family vacation from five years ago. Everyone remembers it differently. Your sister insists you got lost for hours, while you swear it was only 30 minutes. Your mom remembers it as the best vacation ever, but your dad says it rained the entire time. Who’s right? Probably all of you, in your own way. You all experienced the same trip, but your individual memories of it have evolved and shaped themselves differently over time. - The Party Incident
Imagine you and your friends attend a wild party. The next day, you’re all discussing what happened. One friend remembers an amazing dance-off that ended with everyone cheering. Another swears the dance-off was awkward, and no one participated. A third friend says the cops showed up at some point. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out how you lost your shoes. Despite experiencing the same night, everyone has their own version of what went down. Maybe the dance-off was half-hearted, and only a few people clapped. Maybe the cops drove by but never came inside. Maybe your shoes are in someone else’s trunk. But every version of the story seems perfectly reasonable to the person telling it. - Historical Events
On a larger scale, history itself is often a victim of the Rashomon Effect. For example, consider major historical events like wars or political revolutions. The way these events are remembered and recorded can vary drastically depending on which side of the conflict you’re on. One country’s hero is another country’s villain. The “victors” write the history books, but that doesn’t necessarily mean their version is the only truth.
The Rashomon Effect and the Nature of Truth
So, what does the Rashomon Effect say about truth? If different people can recall the same event in different ways, how do we ever figure out what really happened? The Rashomon Effect challenges the idea that truth is an absolute, singular thing. Instead, it suggests that truth is often subjective, shaped by the perspectives and experiences of the people involved. It doesn’t mean that the truth doesn’t exist—rather, it means that getting to the “whole” truth can be difficult when multiple, conflicting truths are at play.
Some people argue that the Rashomon Effect reveals the limitations of human perception and memory. It shows us that we can never fully trust any single account of an event, because all of us are inherently biased, even when we don’t mean to be. Others, however, see it as a celebration of human complexity. After all, isn’t it fascinating that different people can experience the same moment in unique ways? It’s what makes storytelling, art, and even history so rich and varied.
In a world where we often want clear-cut answers and absolute truths, the Rashomon Effect can feel a little unsettling. But it also reminds us that the truth is often more complex than we think. We might never fully understand what happened in that forest in Rashomon—or at last weekend’s party—but maybe that’s okay. Maybe the truth is that everyone’s perspective is a piece of a bigger puzzle, and together, they paint a fuller, more human picture of reality.
Written by: Manasvi Deore
