Today, we’re talking about the The frequency illusion.
The frequency illusion, also known as the "Baader-Meinhof phenomenon," occurs when people notice something for the first time, and suddenly it seems to appear everywhere. This illusion gives the false impression that the frequency of the event or object has increased, even though its actual occurrence remains unchanged. This cognitive bias highlights how our brains, once primed by a recent encounter, selectively notice and recall information that aligns with our new awareness or interests.
Imagine a dancer who reads a news article about a famous performer getting injured during a show. Suddenly, it feels like dance injuries are far more common—they might hear more stories about injuries from their dance circle or notice articles about accidents that they would have otherwise ignored. This shift isn’t due to an actual increase in the frequency of dance injuries but rather the dancer’s heightened awareness. They are now actively noticing these stories because they are primed to look for them, reinforcing the idea that injuries are widespread.
In the dance world, this bias can have both positive and negative implications. On the negative side, dancers may become overly cautious or fearful after encountering stories about injuries, assuming that injury is inevitable. This can undermine their confidence or even prevent them from pursuing more ambitious dance opportunities. Parents, too, may fall prey to this illusion and discourage their children from dancing, convinced that it carries a high risk of harm. However, statistics show that while dance injuries do happen, they are not as frequent or unavoidable as this bias might suggest.
The "backup plan" dilemma is an interesting example of how frequency illusion manifests.
Throughout my career, I’ve often heard people say things like, “What if you break your leg?”—as if dance is uniquely prone to catastrophic failure. Yet, the same logic rarely gets applied to other professions. Imagine an orthopaedic surgeon breaking their hand; do we insist they quit their field entirely? Similarly, many dancers don’t stop performing due to physical injury alone. In reality, dancers leave the industry for various reasons—career shifts, personal choices, or lifestyle changes—not just injury, despite what frequency illusion might make people believe.
On a positive note, this bias also shows up in lighter, everyday moments. For example, if a dancer becomes obsessed with a particular brand of dance shoes, they may suddenly notice those shoes everywhere—on social media, in advertisements, and at competitions. The shoes didn’t become more popular overnight, but the dancer’s heightened awareness makes them seem more prevalent. This phenomenon can also happen when buying a new car or noticing a trendy item of clothing—once it's on your mind, it feels like it’s everywhere.
To sum it up:
Frequency illusion reminds us that perception does not always reflect reality. Our minds tend to focus on what is personally relevant, giving the illusion that certain events are more frequent than they really are. In dance, it’s essential to be mindful of this bias. Rather than letting fear of rare injuries cloud judgement, dancers can focus on building resilience and skill. The same principle applies to other areas of life—while it’s helpful to stay aware of new trends or risks, it’s equally important to remain grounded in facts and objective reality.
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