Illusory Correlation

The tendency to perceive a relationship between two unrelated things, often because they are unusual or stand out together.

Our brains are pattern-seeking machines. When two distinctive events co-occur, we remember them more vividly and assume a causal connection even when none exists.

• Believing that a full moon causes strange behavior.
• Associating a specific outfit with good luck after wearing it during a win.
• Thinking a minority group commits more crime because those cases are more memorable.

• Look for statistical evidence before assuming two things are related.
• Ask: 'Am I noticing this pattern because it's real, or because it's memorable?'
• Track actual occurrences rather than relying on memory.
• Be especially cautious of correlations involving rare or distinctive events.