"The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, the frequency illusion, is the brain's proclivity toward looking for patterns. When we learn something new, we unconsciously scan our world for matches and are alerted to confirmations."
"Psychologists might refer to this as combining two common cognitive tendencies: selective attention and confirmation bias. This is not the same experience as researching something on our phone or computer one day and then being inundated with ads."
"Marketing does lean on this frequency phenomenon somewhat, using those browsing habits of ours and then reinforcing something, as we apparently do tend to be pulled to purchase if we see something more often."
The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, or frequency illusion, occurs when learning something new leads to heightened awareness of it in everyday life. This cognitive tendency combines selective attention and confirmation bias, making individuals notice instances of the new information more frequently. Unlike targeted marketing algorithms that bombard users with ads based on their online searches, this phenomenon is a natural cognitive process. Understanding this can help individuals maximize their awareness and focus on the patterns they observe in their surroundings.
#baader-meinhof-phenomenon #cognitive-psychology #selective-attention #confirmation-bias #frequency-illusion
Read at Psychology Today
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