128. The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon: How Your Brain Tricks You into Seeing Patterns Everywhere

27/03/2025 13 min Episodio 128

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Episode Synopsis

'The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.' – Robertson Davies (Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist and professor)Goddess, have you ever learned a new word or discovered a new concept, only to suddenly notice it appearing everywhere?You read about a particular book, and then suddenly, it seems like everyone is talking about it? You hear a song for the first time, and now it’s playing in every café you visit?It feels almost eerie, like the universe is sending you a message.But don’t worry, beautiful, it’s not the universe conspiring. It’s your brain at work, engaging in something called the ‘Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon’, also known as the ‘Baader-Meinhof Effect’ and as the ‘Frequency Illusion’.In this episode of the Goddess of Technology podcast, allow me to take you on a journey through the fascinating world of cognitive biases.Let’s explore why this phenomenon happens in the first place, how it influences our perceptions in daily life, and most importantly, how we can leverage it to our advantage.Goddess, have you ever experienced the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon yourself? I’d love to hear your story! I’m inviting you to share your experience through the contact form linked in the general podcast description.Music: 'Bummin on Tremelo' by Kevin MacLeod – CC BY 3.0 (incompetech.com)