
257 | Derek Guy on the Theory and Practice of Dressing Well
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
We Are Not the Center of Attention
People significantly overestimate how much others notice their appearance, illustrating the spotlight effect. This cognitive bias leads individuals to believe they are the main characters in their lives, causing them to interpret others' perceptions through the lens of their own emotional states, such as anxiety or nervousness. This effect is particularly pronounced when wearing something new, where feelings of self-consciousness can distort one's perception of external scrutiny.
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