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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
What is the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon?
The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon – is a cognitive effect when, after the first acquaintance with some new information, it begins to happen to us often in everyday life. In fact, the frequency of its appearance does not change, it's just that our brain begins to notice it more actively.
The term «Baader-Meinhof» phenomenon originated in the 90s of the last century, when one of the users of the online forum St. Paul Pioneer Press he remembered what he heard about the far-left German terrorist group Red Army faction (known also as the Baader-Meinhof group), and then began to see references to him everywhere. The name has taken hold, although the phenomenon itself has nothing to do with terrorism.
Why does this happen?
The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon is explained by several cognitive processes:
1. Selective attention
We get a huge amount of information all the time, but the brain only filters what seems important to us. If a word or phenomenon suddenly caught our attention, the brain automatically begins to distinguish it from the general information flow.
2. Confirmatory bias
This is another cognitive effect that makes us notice only those facts that confirm our point of view or new knowledge. We ignore all the rest that does not correspond to this pattern.
3. The effect of novelty
New knowledge creates a sense of freshness and significance. Because of this, the brain seems to remember«and illuminate them in our field of vision.
Examples of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon in life
- You bought a new smartphone model and now you notice that every second one has the same one.
- Learned the rare name – and suddenly meets a few people who wear it.
- Began to be interested in a certain country – and now you are constantly faced with its mentions.
Can this phenomenon be used to your advantage?
Yes! If you consciously direct attention to something useful, the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon will help us in education, work or self-development. For example:
- If you start reading about a new topic, the brain will highlight it in the environment, helping to assimilate knowledge.
- If you focus on the positive aspects of life, you will start to notice them more often.
- If you want to change your way of thinking, you should surround yourself with appropriate information triggers.
The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon – is just a feature of our brain, not a mysterious coincidence. It shows how selective our attention is and how cognitive mechanisms of perception work. If you understand how this phenomenon works, you can use it to your advantage – to learn more effectively, focus on what is important and even form your own worldview.
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