Patterns

In examining all the nuances of 2020 and its assorted groupthink, it’d be remiss not to touch on the concept of illusory pattern perceptions, and how they drive conspiracy theory minded folks.

Finding meanings in random patterns of different stimuli, and drawing correlations where none actually exist, is a common human trait. We all do it. I do it. We’re always trying to make meaningful conclusions when faced with confusing circumstances. It’s often how we sort the world out, how we make sense of things.

Attributing causation to consequence is a key component in our ability to maintain sanity. A number of studies in journals of social psychology have determined people with strong beliefs in conspiracies or extremist faiths are generally more inclined to see patterns in random settings, no matter how unfounded or empirically unsound they might be.

What’s interesting is how conspiracy advocates might be more predisposed to see the world in these ways.