Science October 2008 PMID 18832647

Lacking control increases illusory pattern perception.

Jennifer A Whitson, Adam D Galinsky

Mentions

112
Peak: 3 in Jun 2021
across 6 sources since Jul 2019

Extended reach

194,041
potential audience

Total likes

438

Video views

14,159

Mentions per month

Jul 2019 – Aug 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News52 articles
  • Blogs24 articles
  • X / Twitter21 posts
  • Facebook8 posts
  • YouTube5 videos
  • Bluesky2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects strong agreement, as seen in comments directly citing the research, such as 'Lacking control increases illusory pattern perception,' and references to applications like conspiracy beliefs and casino talks. Words like 'fascinating' and mentions of experiments emphasize engagement, highlighting how this psychological insight resonates across various social discussions and perceived real-world impacts.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions support the idea that feeling a lack of control heightens the tendency to see patterns where none exist, reflecting strong consensus.

InterestModerate interest

While the core concept appears accessible, some comments show moderate curiosity, especially regarding applications in areas like conspiracy theories or casinos.

EngagementHigh engagement

Numerous discussions delve into various implications, referencing experiments, examples of conspiracy beliefs, and specific phenomena like superstitions, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

The consistent mention of real-world implications and experiments suggests that users perceive this research as significantly impactful, especially for understanding human behavior and societal trends.

Abstract in brief

  • Lack of control makes people more likely to see meaningful patterns or connections in random data, such as noise, stock info, conspiracies, or superstitions.
  • This tendency is driven by a motivational need for structure, and reinforcing the self can weaken the link between feeling a lack of control and seeing false patterns.
  • Despite appearing as different types of illusions, the study suggests these pattern perceptions share a common psychological motive related to feeling uncertain or insecure.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
hideyuki takahashi
@hideman2009 · X

認知的な制御感が落ちるとノイズ画像に幻覚をみやすくなる,という僕が好きなScienceの論文,youtubeにあがっている論文紹介ビデオがいい感じに尖っていて好きw Lacking control increases illusory pattern perception ! https://t.co/tjbVuXRm30 @YouTubeより 元論文 https://t.co/B23KD0XGK9

Apr 23, 2022 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 6,560 followers View post →
Dr. Jonathan N. Stea
@jonathanstea · X

@JesparDalVar @BWiSfull Yes! Your comment is supported by scientific evidence: https://t.co/ikgh2CYKmY When people experience lack of control, they search for illusory patterns and are much more likely to believe in conspiracies.

Jun 12, 2023 · 6 likes · 48,068 followers View post →
stewart longman
@longmans1 · X

@Bloop63997568 @jonathanstea @NjalDungBeard I wonder if it has been found elsewhere? https://t.co/G8aGdPwNk8 https://t.co/cS5NJpJ8NZ https://t.co/j8Jb87gJCI https://t.co/gQTzpZPEQI https://t.co/LDSYDW1Sgx So, reproduced many times.

Jun 11, 2023 · 4 likes · 23 followers View post →
Prof. Eliot Jacobson
@EliotJacobson · X

@dvoryane Do you know about "Illusory Pattern Perception"? Fascinating stuff. I used to quote this article when I would present talks to the casino industry. https://t.co/BnIZ6QmSip

Jan 29, 2022 · 2 likes · 77,414 followers View post →
Jake Orthwein
@JakeOrthwein · X

@wobblewoof https://t.co/3j49toygNE This is the kind of thing I had in mind!

Jan 6, 2022 · 2 likes · 10,839 followers View post →
Duane
@DuaneKing · X

Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception https://t.co/MLaIOyPtXD

Feb 24, 2020 · 2 likes · 8,647 followers View post →

All mentions

Milad Taksibi
@drmiladtaksibi · X

Aug 3, 2025 · 1 followers View post →
測定
@_A2mjBt7 · X

RT @yu_the_hippo: JA Whitson, AD Galinsky (2008) "Lacking control increases illusory pattern perception" Science 322 (5898), 115-117 https:…

Jul 5, 2025 · 1 share · 406 followers View post →
escape(window)
@escapewindow.com · Bluesky

"Participants who lacked control were more likely to perceive a variety of illusory patterns, including seeing images in noise, forming illusory correlations in stock market information, perceiving conspiracies, and developing superstitions." pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18832647/

May 24, 2025 View post →
Mandragore ⛩️
@mandragore.bsky.social · Bluesky

Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Jan 25, 2025 View post →
Dr. Jonathan N. Stea
@jonathanstea · X

@JesparDalVar @BWiSfull Yes! Your comment is supported by scientific evidence: https://t.co/ikgh2CYKmY When people experience lack of control, they search for illusory patterns and are much more likely to believe in conspiracies.

Jun 12, 2023 · 6 likes · 48,068 followers View post →
stewart longman
@longmans1 · X

@Bloop63997568 @jonathanstea @NjalDungBeard I wonder if it has been found elsewhere? https://t.co/G8aGdPwNk8 https://t.co/cS5NJpJ8NZ https://t.co/j8Jb87gJCI https://t.co/gQTzpZPEQI https://t.co/LDSYDW1Sgx So, reproduced many times.

Jun 11, 2023 · 4 likes · 23 followers View post →
nameless, faceless
@machinedreamzsz · X

when they believe in divine punishment but it is quite obvious that lacking control increases illusory pattern perception ……..

Jun 4, 2023 · 226 followers View post →
Jake Orthwein
@JakeOrthwein · X

@rfinz https://t.co/3j49tohdLE

Nov 28, 2022 · 1 like · 10,839 followers View post →
On Humans
@OnHumansPod · X

2/4 Conspiratorial beliefs are partially explained by “patternicity”: we find patterns where there are non. Humans exhibit more patternicity when feeling a lack of control (Whitson & Galinsky 2008). "Finding" a pattern can feel empowering. https://t.co/ESUYrEnZM8

Sep 30, 2022 · 2 likes · 315 followers View post →
na
@NNapy_n · X

RT @hideman2009: 認知的な制御感が落ちるとノイズ画像に幻覚をみやすくなる,という僕が好きなScienceの論文,youtubeにあがっている論文紹介ビデオがいい感じに尖っていて好きw Lacking control increases illusory pat…

Apr 23, 2022 · 2 shares · 115 followers View post →
hideyuki takahashi
@hideman2009 · X

認知的な制御感が落ちるとノイズ画像に幻覚をみやすくなる,という僕が好きなScienceの論文,youtubeにあがっている論文紹介ビデオがいい感じに尖っていて好きw Lacking control increases illusory pattern perception ! https://t.co/tjbVuXRm30 @YouTubeより 元論文 https://t.co/B23KD0XGK9

Apr 23, 2022 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 6,560 followers View post →
Prof. Eliot Jacobson
@EliotJacobson · X

@dvoryane Do you know about "Illusory Pattern Perception"? Fascinating stuff. I used to quote this article when I would present talks to the casino industry. https://t.co/BnIZ6QmSip

Jan 29, 2022 · 2 likes · 77,414 followers View post →
Jake Orthwein
@JakeOrthwein · X

@wobblewoof https://t.co/3j49toygNE This is the kind of thing I had in mind!

Jan 6, 2022 · 2 likes · 10,839 followers View post →
mat marques, ph.d. ||| @fabiovelo@bsky.social
@fabiovelo · X

@BereftOfTheDial @CNN "look and see things and patterns that most people are not looking for" sounds like illusory patterns perception to me… https://t.co/IprVGkVIpw

Oct 21, 2021 · 1,123 followers View post →
TAND
@Takis_Tand · X

Faithless Podcast (επ.13): Θεωρίες Συνωμοσίας https://t.co/JXFEFd5O0P via @YouTube

Jun 12, 2021 · 1,527 followers View post →
faithlesslabs
@faithlesslabs · X

Faithless Podcast (επ.13): Θεωρίες Συνωμοσίας https://t.co/KMzR9v5XVD

Jun 12, 2021 · 5 followers View post →
Alvaro Altube
@BfitGetxo · X

Los participantes de este estudio que carecían de control, tenían más posibilidades de percibir una variedad de patrones ilusorios(Ver imágenes en el ruido, formar correlaciones ilusorias en el mercado de valores,percibir conspiraciones, supersticiones...) https://t.co/II1UY5BJAT

Jan 21, 2021 · 5,246 followers View post →
hideyuki takahashi
@hideman2009 · X

この研究,このScienceの研究にインスピレーションを得たのだけど,この論文のプロモーションビデオが滅茶苦茶ぶっ飛んでいて,いい感じで好き Lacking control increases illusory pattern perception https://t.co/xsNBGqbTSW プロモーションビデオ https://t.co/yfkS5LaBBe https://t.co/iOi4JkPo20

Sep 1, 2020 · 2 likes · 6,560 followers View post →
Lars Donath
@LarsDonath · X

@PietSmiet @rezomusik Hier ein interessanter Artikel mit Experiment zur Entstehung von Verschwörungstheorien: Whitson & Galinsky: Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception | Science

Jun 2, 2020 · 818 followers View post →
Lars Donath
@LarsDonath · X

Grandioses Experiment zur möglichen Entstehung von Verschwörungstheorien: Whitson & Galinsky: Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception | Science https://t.co/PXHs1AfJAo

May 16, 2020 · 818 followers View post →
Nano_Chan
@Cinderella_Nano · X

Lacking control increases illusory pattern perception, be aware. #aouthoughts

Mar 27, 2020 · 1 like · 105 followers View post →
Duane
@DuaneKing · X

Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception https://t.co/MLaIOyPtXD

Feb 24, 2020 · 2 likes · 8,647 followers View post →
远梦
@Yuanmeng_PAN · X

Lacking Control Increases Illusory Pattern Perception https://t.co/5n4Usan1hl

Jul 7, 2019 · 218 followers View post →