<p>The feeling that the solution is obvious after it is provided is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindsight_bias" rel="nofollow noreferrer">hindsight bias</a> (aka the &quot;knew-it-all-along phenomenon&quot;).</p>
<p>This feeling is informed by the metacognitive sense of surprise, which itself is a form of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processing_fluency" rel="nofollow noreferrer">processing fluency</a>.  Basically, when the solution to a problem is first given, it is surprising (lacks fluency), and hence judged as difficult.  However, when the solution is known or provided again, it is no longer surprising (has fluency), and hence judged as easy.  People often underestimate the difficulty (or predictability) of solutions (or events) after knowing the outcome, due to this bias.</p>
<p>In the example provided in the question however, it is not clear that you actually know the solution, only that you feel that you know the solution after it was solved by someone else.  In this case, you really do have a case of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishful_thinking" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wishful thinking</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-13T03:05:30.363Z
2020-12-13T03:05:30.363Z
Arnon Weinberg
<p>After 51 years, the &quot;Z-340&quot; cypher text from &quot;Zodiac&quot; serial killer has been solved: <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/11/us/zodiac-killer-cypher-340-code-trnd/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/11/us/zodiac-killer-cypher-340-code-trnd/index.html</a></p>
<p>Now that we have the problem and the solution, when I'm watching the cypher text again I'm like <em>&quot;Ho.. look, look, it's so obvious! The sign must mean this and that and the following letter is transposed according to the sign and if you like at this and that there is a clear relationship between the age of the captain and whatever this thing mean!! Ha! It must be!&quot;</em></p>
<p>Even knowing that it's just wishful thinking, I'm still willing it to be true: <em>&quot;Yeaaah, it's probably, 99.99% sure, just me imagining things.. BUT! That 0.01% doubt, I want it to be true anyway.&quot;</em></p>
<p>There is a name for this effect. I don't think it's the Barnum effect, it may or may not be a &quot;confirmation bias&quot;. What is this effect called?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-13T02:10:15.373Z
Welcome to psych.SE.  You said that you know that this phenomenon is called "wishful thinking", so what else are you looking for?  You may also be interested in "apophenia" and "hindsight bias".
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-13T02:44:44.290Z
i really like the wikipedia about "apophenia". I also think that "wishful thinking" is too broad and there is something way more specific to the fact that this thought process happen because the solution is provided. i was sure i knew the name of that effect but... not anymore. I can't find anything that is close to a name i knew before.
ker2x
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-04T19:59:55.217Z
the name i was looking for was "Pareidolia". it's not the right name in this case, but it's the one i had in mind.
ker2x
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-17T15:43:28.553Z
Possible duplicate of: [What is the psychological explanation for the phenomena that a person sees the solution to a problem as “simple” once it has been found?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/24426/7001) and [Why do solutions to problems feel simple (or obvious) once we are given them?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/23732/7001)
Arnon Weinberg
<cognitive-psychology>
Name of the psychological effect that make us see correlation that may not exist
ker2x
# Name of the psychological effect that make us see correlation that may not exist

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-13)

After 51 years, the "Z-340" cypher text from "Zodiac" serial killer has been solved: <https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/11/us/zodiac-killer-cypher-340-code-trnd/index.html>

Now that we have the problem and the solution, when I'm watching the cypher text again I'm like *"Ho.. look, look, it's so obvious! The sign must mean this and that and the following letter is transposed according to the sign and if you like at this and that there is a clear relationship between the age of the captain and whatever this thing mean!! Ha! It must be!"*

Even knowing that it's just wishful thinking, I'm still willing it to be true: *"Yeaaah, it's probably, 99.99% sure, just me imagining things.. BUT! That 0.01% doubt, I want it to be true anyway."*

There is a name for this effect. I don't think it's the Barnum effect, it may or may not be a "confirmation bias". What is this effect called?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to psych.SE.  You said that you know that this phenomenon is called "wishful thinking", so what else are you looking for?  You may also be interested in "apophenia" and "hindsight bias".  
> **username_0**: i really like the wikipedia about "apophenia". I also think that "wishful thinking" is too broad and there is something way more specific to the fact that this thought process happen because the solution is provided. i was sure i knew the name of that effect but... not anymore. I can't find anything that is close to a name i knew before.  
> **username_0**: the name i was looking for was "Pareidolia". it's not the right name in this case, but it's the one i had in mind.  
> **username_1**: Possible duplicate of: [What is the psychological explanation for the phenomena that a person sees the solution to a problem as “simple” once it has been found?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/24426/7001) and [Why do solutions to problems feel simple (or obvious) once we are given them?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/23732/7001)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-12-13. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The feeling that the solution is obvious after it is provided is called [hindsight bias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindsight_bias) (aka the "knew-it-all-along phenomenon").

This feeling is informed by the metacognitive sense of surprise, which itself is a form of [processing fluency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processing_fluency). Basically, when the solution to a problem is first given, it is surprising (lacks fluency), and hence judged as difficult. However, when the solution is known or provided again, it is no longer surprising (has fluency), and hence judged as easy. People often underestimate the difficulty (or predictability) of solutions (or events) after knowing the outcome, due to this bias.

In the example provided in the question however, it is not clear that you actually know the solution, only that you feel that you know the solution after it was solved by someone else. In this case, you really do have a case of [wishful thinking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishful_thinking).


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