Illusory correlation is a cognitive bias in which people perceive a relationship between two unrelated events or variables. This phenomenon is often seen in the form of false correlations, where people assume that two events are linked when in reality they are not. Illusory correlation can lead to inaccurate conclusions and
In psychology, illusory correlation is the phenomenon of perceiving a relationship between variables even when no such relationship exists. A false association may be formed because rare or novel occurrences are more salient and therefore tend to capture one's attention. This phenomenon is one way stereotypes form and endure. Hamilton & Rose (1980) found that stereotypes can lead people to expect certain groups and traits to fit together, and then to overestimate the frequency of such co-occurrences. These stereotypes can be learned and perpetuated without any actual contact occurring between the holder of the stereotype and the group it is about.