The frequency illusion, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon is an example of cognitive bias that occurs when something that has recently been brought to your attention suddenly begins to appear everywhere you look. This phenomenon gives the impression that, pretty much out of nowhere, everything and everyone is referencing the subject that you just learned about. Like me, you may be thinking that this phenomenon was first researched by two scientists named Baader and Meinhof… unfortunately, the Baader-Meinhoff group was a late 20th Century german military group that has very little to do with the phenomenon. The term “frequency illusion” was applied to the phenomenon in 2005 by Stanford linguistics professor Arnold Zwicky.
What is Cognitive Bias?
A cognitive bias is an error that occurs in the cognitive process during which the interpretation of information is compromised by memory, attention, and other mental mistakes. These biases are a result of the brain’s attempt to process and organize the massive amount of information that we consume every day. SOme common examples of cognitive biases are confirmation bias, hindsight bias, self-serving bias, anchoring bias, availability bias, the framing effect, inattentional blindness, and the consensus effect. Although they are unconscious processes, cognitive biases can be mitigated through the application of mental practices.
Here is a video with more information on different cognitive biases:
Feature Photo: Monisha Selvakumar At: Unsplash