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Apophenia: Difference between revisions
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''‘It’s good to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.’ '''-''''' '''Carl Sagan''' | ''‘It’s good to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.’ '''-''''' '''Carl Sagan''' | ||
'''Apophenia is the tendency to perceive | '''Apophenia is the human tendency to perceive patterns, connections, or meaning in unrelated or random data — such as seeing shapes in clouds, interpreting coincidences as significant, or finding hidden messages where none exist.''' For instance the image of a face in a cloud ('''Figure 1''') or seeing "''a'' ''man in the moon''". | ||
Apophenia is a type of [[Cognitive Biases|cognitive bias]] that can lead people to see meaning or significance in things that are actually random or insignificant. Apophenia can be a normal part of human cognition and can sometimes lead to creative insights, but it can also lead to distorted or irrational thinking and beliefs. Some people may experience apophenia to a greater degree and may be more prone to forming irrational beliefs or making unsupported conclusions based on limited or incomplete information. In some cases, apophenia may be a symptom of a [[Mental Illness|mental illness]], such as schizophrenia. | Apophenia is a type of [[Cognitive Biases|cognitive bias]] that can lead people to see meaning or significance in things that are actually random or insignificant. Apophenia can be a normal part of human cognition and can sometimes lead to creative insights, but it can also lead to distorted or irrational thinking and beliefs. Some people may experience apophenia to a greater degree and may be more prone to forming irrational beliefs or making unsupported conclusions based on limited or incomplete information. In some cases, apophenia may be a symptom of a [[Mental Illness|mental illness]], such as schizophrenia. | ||
== Apophenia and Psychedelics == | |||
In [[Psychedelics|psychedelic]] circles, chronic apophenia is sometimes playfully referred to as “McKenna Syndrome”, a nod to Terence McKenna’s flair for constructing elaborate, often speculative theories. Apophenia appears to be more prevalent within the psychedelic community<ref>1. Goran Knežević, Marija Kušić, Lukic P, Lazarević LB, Keller J. Can the “Shotgun Wedding” of Openness and Psychoticism Be Justified Based on Apophenia as the Disposition to Commit False-Positive Errors?. ''Zeitschrift für Psychologie''. 2024;232(4):255-268. doi:<nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1027/2151-2604/a000580</nowiki> | |||
</ref> most notably in those experiencing [[Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder|HPPD]]<ref>Irvine A, Luke D. Apophenia, absorption and anxiety: Evidence for individual differences in positive and negative experiences of Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder. ''Journal of Psychedelic Studies''. 2022;6(2):88-103. doi:<nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2022.00195</nowiki> | |||
</ref>. This may be linked to the way psychedelics enhance [[neuroplasticity]], the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, which can foster novel insights, but also increase the likelihood of seeing patterns where none truly exist. | |||
== Synchronicity vs Apophenia == | == Synchronicity vs Apophenia == | ||
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Apophenia, on the other hand, refers to the tendency of the human mind to perceive patterns or connections in random or meaningless data. It is a natural cognitive process that helps us make sense of the world, but it can also lead us to see patterns where there are none, such as the cloud example above. | Apophenia, on the other hand, refers to the tendency of the human mind to perceive patterns or connections in random or meaningless data. It is a natural cognitive process that helps us make sense of the world, but it can also lead us to see patterns where there are none, such as the cloud example above. | ||
'''References''' | |||