In short: Fundamental human observation allows the detection of patterns from vague information, but in so doing leaves us prone to attributing inaccurate meaning to what we see and hear. In other words, our senses do in fact lie. Sometimes.

1. PS409
Psychology, Science,
& Pseudoscience
Dr Brian Hughes
School of Psychology
brian.hughes@nuigalway.ie @b_m_hughes

2. Evidentiary reasoning:
Why do people believe weird
things?

3. Testimonial evidence
“At what speed were the vehicles going when they hit into 31.8 mph
each other?”
“At what speed were the vehicles going when they smashed 40.8 mph
into each other?”
Loftus (1976)

4. Testimonial evidence
“At what speed were the vehicles going when they hit into 31.8 mph
each other?”
“At what speed were the vehicles going when they smashed 40.8 mph
into each other?”
Loftus (1976)

5. False assumption regarding evidence:
People absorb information accurately, evaluate it
accurately, and use it to draw accurate conclusions
More accurate assertion:
People absorb information crudely, evaluate it
inconsistently, and use it to draw conclusions that
are often–but not always–roughly accurate

6. Evidentiary reasoning errors
Cognitive factors
Difficulties with randomness
Difficulties with sampling
Difficulties with probabilistic
reasoning
Social factors
Difficulties with motivation
Difficulties with second-hand information
Difficulties with first-hand information
Difficulties with exaggerated impressions of
corroboration

7. Difficulties with randomness

8. Difficulties with randomness

9. Difficulties with randomness

10. Difficulties with randomness
Pattern detection ‘built-in’ for evolutionary reasons
Human psychology results in a failure to appreciate
randomness
Allows some useful mental shortcuts
But leaves us prone to being fooled

11. “Pareidolia”
“The Badlands Guardian”
Alberta, Canada
Google map
“The Old Man of the Mountain”
New Hampshire, US
(collapsed in 2003)
Tree aliens

13. www.mrbreakfast.com

15. skepticalteacher.wordpress.com

20. Steven Gerrard in a plate of chips

21. Auditory pareidolia
Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs)
electronically captured sounds which resemble
speech, but which are not the result of
intentional voice recording
http://www.glowingdial.com/audiofiles.htm
Backmasking
a recording technique in which a sound or
message is recorded backward onto a track that
is meant to be played forward

22. Backmasking
Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
Forward:
If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed
Play now, it’s just a spring clean for the May queen. Yes there
forward
are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there’s
still time to change the road you’re on.
Backward:
Play
backward
Click here for audio files and lyric reveal:
http://jeffmilner.com/backmasking/stairway-to-heaven-
backwards.html

23. Backmasking
Queen – Another One Bites the Dust
Forward:
Another one bites the dust! Another one bites the dust!
Play Another one bites the dust! Another one bites the dust!
forward
Backward:
Play
backward
Click here for audio files and lyric reveal:
http://jeffmilner.com/backmasking/another-one-bites-the-
dust-backwards.html

24. Backmasking
Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time
Forward:
With you I lose my mind. Give me a sign…
Play
forward
Backward:
Play
backward
Click here for audio files and lyric reveal:
http://jeffmilner.com/backmasking/baby-one-more-time-
backwards.html

25. Summary
Human observation is predicated on the construction
of perceptions from fragmentary sensations
In general, our scanning of environments for major cues is quickly
overtaken by a “filling-in of the blanks”
Thus, human observers are adept at detecting patterns
from vague information
Pattern recognition acuity helps us navigate our surroundings both
normally, and when perception is compromised
However, by necessity, such a process is prone to error
Illustrations include pareidolia, both visual and acoustic
Over-active ‘pattern recognition’ shows our tendency
to attach false meaning to what we see and hear
Which demonstrates our susceptibility to acquiring unreliable beliefs

26. PS409
Psychology, Science,
& Pseudoscience
Dr Brian Hughes
School of Psychology
brian.hughes@nuigalway.ie @b_m_hughes