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Leveling and sharpening

Description

Two complementary types of memory distortion in which details of a memory are lost (leveling) while others are highlighted or exaggerated (sharpening) as the memory is retold.

Example 1:

When an employee recounts a story about a workplace incident, some details may be omitted over time (leveling) while others (often the more dramatic or unusual parts) become emphasized (sharpening).

Example 2:

When an employee recounts a complex customer complaint to their manager, they might omit some details (leveling) and emphasize the customer's anger (sharpening), potentially distorting the manager's understanding of the situation.