Why we see patterns in randomness | BBC Ideas

Psychologist and author Steven Pinker explores why humans are so prone to seeing patterns in randomness - and why that can be a problem. Unpick why we can fall for the 'gambler's fallacy' or the 'Texas sharpshooter fallacy' and what we can do about it.

Graphics by Michal Biazolej.

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#bbcideas #patterns #randomness

[rvilleg]

I thought they were going to mathemaically solve the question about birthdays...

[benbutler]

Nothing is random, we just are not able to comprehend everything

[MrFossilabgfyth]

Coincidences happen all the time.
But past events can influence the future.

[Anna_Rozanska]

The gambler's fallacy and how we are easily noticing it in others, but not in ourselves is a very interesting phenomenon. However, I don't think the recipe for shielding societies against it could be as easy as freedom of speech. While I totally support open debate, it's not like the experts', or the wisest, or most balanced opinions win it. Likewise, it's not the thorough, critical studies that are read most. People are largely governed by emotions - another interesting phenomenon in a species that called itself "sapiens" (knowing/ knowledgeable/intelligent) - and it makes matters quite complicated.

[WritersDigest-bf]

Could u check this reasoning.


As an example


For 60 people in a room, each one of them can have 365 birthdays.

There are 365 to the power 60 possible birthdays.

And the number of ways two people not sharing birthdays is 365 x 364 x …. for half the people in the room which would be 30
Divide this by 365 to the power 18 and subtract from 1

The answer in %age would be the chance two people out of 60 in a room share a birthday.

Thank u

[elliotpolanco]

I Love This, Helps become a B.S detector.

[laughingvampire]

to me, as a non-native English speaker it is really weird that you guys use odd/even for chance or in other cases.

[uplusprite]

Hey, can you ever see patterns in randomness?

[mariamusto]

would it be possible to see the transcript?

[walkingwith_dinosaurs]

I kinda doubt that the community as a whole would be able to choose the right decision though

[sofianesofiane]

patterns in randomness is a mathematical subject not psychology
👍👍👍👍✌✌✌✌✌✌

[danbee]

It only blizzard in texas when lockdown 🚫🚘, coincidence?!🤭

[Bob-txhv]

I take it the politically driven suggestion throw in there about climate change wasn't random

[stefannikola]

You should have had Leonard Mlodinow talk about this subject, not Pinker.