To better understand this intriguing phenomenon that can affect anyone, but especially those with anxiety problems, it is advisable to examine the psychology that supports it and how it originates.
If you’ve ever experienced the strange feeling that after learning about something new or becoming interested in a specific topic, suddenly you start seeing it everywhere. This is known as the phenomenon Baader—Meinhof or frequency illusion, and is a psychological condition that affects people’s everyday perception.
Imagine that you are reading an article about a smartphone like the iPhone 15 and suddenly, you start seeing advertisements for said product on television and on the Internet. Or maybe you see a movie you didn’t know about, but hours later you start hearing conversations about it in your social circle. You may even think that your cell phone is spying on you to sell you something.
Baader—Meinhof: when the brain begins to see one thing everywhere
The explanation behind this phenomenon lies in the brain’s selective attention.. When you focus on something new, your brain begins to pay more attention to it, making it seem like it’s present everywhere.
In reality, it is not that its frequency has increased, but rather that perception has become more selective. That is, you are simply more attentive to it. The frequency illusion is very common that can affect anyone.
However, there are some people who are more likely to suffer from it, these are those who have an open and curious mind, who are more willing to learn new things and pay attention to their surroundings. As well as those who have a high level of anxiety, since they tend to be more aware of the things around them.
Experts point out that the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon is based on the principle of selective attention. Our brain is constantly bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information and stimuli from the environment. To avoid cognitive overload, it filters and processes only certain signals while ignoring others.
On the other hand, in neurobiological terms, it may be related to the formation of neuronal connections. When you learn something new or become interested in a topic, neurons can establish new networks to strengthen existing ones in areas related to that topic. In the end, it makes it easier to detect similar stimuli in the future.
The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon is a fascinating example of how the mind can influence the perception of reality. Often, what seems mysterious or when you claim that “your cell phone spies on you” It has an explanation in psychology and the way you process information.