From fun imagery to financial risk

Mild apophenia occurs in many domains such as finance, arts, and politics. It has the potential to lead to risky behaviours or wrong beliefs about the meaning of a pattern.

Visual illusions. Some people see non-existent images in clouds such as a face as a sign of something significant, such as a message from a loved one or a sign of the future.

Financial decisions. People who notice an illusory pattern may believe the outcome of an event is not determined by chance but by previous outcomes or choices. Gamblers might believe that if they make two small wins in a row, they will have a third win.