Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, Functional Fixedness Bias, Least Effort Principle & More

Once something captures your attention, you suddenly see it everywhere. That Tesla model you just noticed. The name you heard for the first time last week. The investing strategy mentioned in passing at dinner. This isn't coincidence—it's the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, and it reveals how your brain filters reality.

Your mind can't process every detail, so it prioritizes. When exposed to novel information, especially if it's interesting, your cognitive apparatus flags it for future recognition. There's no actual increase in occurrence. You've simply started noticing what was always there.