Ever wondered why this happens to you?

 I know you must have been wondering why you get to see something new today, and weeks or months later on, you start seeing that same thing. Or you could just hear a new word today that you never must have heard anywhere. Afterwards, you begin to hear or see it even in books. Well, hang in there, you are not the only one sailing on this ship.

Recently, I was conversing with a friend and one thing led to another, I had to ask him this very thing. He was uncertain as to what to call it, just like I was. It propelled me to conduct a research seeking to know what this experience could be called.

Based on my research, I found out that its called the frequency illusion, also known as The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. It is a cognitive bias that affects how we think and process information. It's a phenomenon where something you recently learned seems to appear everywhere, making it feel like it's more common than it actually is.

The frequency illusion can often lead to the equally deceptive recency illusion. This cognitive bias can make us believe that something we have only recently become aware of is actually a new occurrence, when in reality it may have existed for quite some time.

This could also be likened to certain fashion trends we may consider to be invoked, whereas, it has been in existence for decades, if not centuries.

The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon can be a challenge for decision-makers. It occurs when a particular issue or trend becomes dominant in a person’s consciousness, leading them to view it as more significant or relevant than in reality. It can create a bias towards a particular topic and cause one to overlook other important factors that may have a more significant impact.

The fascinating phenomenon known as the frequency illusion hinges on 3 key factors, which is: Selective attention, Confirmation bias and Acting on unreliable information. 

• Selective attention: The first factor of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon is selective attention, which directs your focus toward the objects or ideas that stimulate your curiosity, while filtering out the rest.

• Confirmation bias: Confirmation bias is another factor, which reinforces our preconceived notions and shapes the way we see the world. This tendency to seek out information that supports our beliefs can have a profound impact on our decision-making, from the cars we buy, hairstyles we make, clothes we wear, to the policies we support. 

• Acting on unreliable information: After coming to the conclusion that a certain trend is ubiquitous and reliable, it’s important to proceed cautiously because the trend may simply be a passing fad. Without comprehensive research, acting on unreliable or biased information can result in expensive losses. 

In conclusion, the frequency illusion is not enough reason for your judgement to remain clouded. Alongside the decisions and choices you make regarding certain issues and trends.