How many times have you thought “What are people thinking of me right now?” or “What would they think?” in your life? How many times have your parents emphasized what other people might think of

you? If the answer is a lot of times, then you suffer from the Spotlight effect.

The spotlight effect is a psychological phenomenon that refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate the extent to which their actions, appearance, or behaviors are noticed or remembered by

others.

In other words, people tend to think that they are the center of attention and that others are paying more attention to them than they actually are. This can lead to feelings of self-consciousness, anxiety,

and even embarrassment, as people may feel that they are being judged or evaluated by others more

than they actually are.

For example, someone might be self-conscious about a small stain on their shirt, thinking that everyone

they encounter will notice it and judge them for it. However, in reality, most people probably won’t even

notice the stain, or if they do, they won’t think much of it.

The spotlight effect can also manifest in social situations, where people may feel like they are being watched or evaluated by others, leading to feelings of anxiety or self-consciousness. However, in reality,

most people are probably more focused on themselves and their own behaviors than on others around them.

Overall, the spotlight effect is a cognitive bias that can lead people to overestimate the degree to which they are being noticed or evaluated by others, leading to negative feelings and behaviors.

So next time you feel conscious, just shake it off and be yourself, people  are not scrutinizing you .