Definitionv1DF-237
Illusory correlation
the tendency to perceive a relationship between two things based on expectation rather than evidence, particularly when semantically associated pairs are overestimated as co-occurring even when actual data shows no correlation
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely captures the specific cognitive bias described in the lesson, distinguishing it from general correlation by emphasizing the role of expectation over evidence. It references the key research by Chapman (1967) and provides the mechanism through which this bias operates, making it a clear, operational definition that can be tested and recognized.