apofénia

Apofenia is a term used to describe the experience of perceiving meaningful connections between unrelated and random things. It is the tendency to see patterns, relationships, or significance in data or events that are actually random or lack any inherent connection. This phenomenon is often associated with a misinterpretation of statistical randomness or coincidences.

The term was coined by Klaus Conrad in 1958, describing it as an "unmotivated seeing of connections accompanied by an unusually high degree of typically associated feeling of significance." Apofenia is considered a cognitive bias, a systematic error in thinking that affects judgments and decisions. It can manifest in various forms, from seeing faces in inanimate objects (pareidolia) to believing in conspiracy theories or superstitions.

While apofenia can sometimes lead to creative insights or scientific discoveries by suggesting novel hypotheses, it can also result in flawed reasoning and false beliefs. It is important to distinguish between genuine patterns and those that are merely perceived. Critical thinking and scientific methodology are tools used to evaluate perceived connections and determine their validity. In some contexts, particularly in psychology and psychiatry, apofenia can be a symptom of certain mental health conditions, though it is a common human experience in its milder forms.