<unk>  is the experience of seeing patterns or connections in random or meaningless data. The term was coined in 1958 by Klaus Conrad, who defined it as the "unmotivated seeing of connections" accompanied by a "specific experience of an abnormal meaningfulness".
"While observations of relevant work environments and human behaviors in these environments is a very important first step in coming to understand any new domain, this activity is in and of its self not sufficient to constitute scientific research. It is fraught with problems of subjective bias in the observer. We (like the experts we study) often see what we expect to see, we interpret the world through our own personal lens. Thus we are extraordinarily open to the trap of<unk> ."
In statistics,<unk>  would be classed as a Type I error (false positive, false alarm, caused by an excess in sensitivity).<unk>  is often used as an explanation of some paranormal and religious claims, and can also be used to explain the tendency of humans to believe pseudoscience such as Intelligent design.<unk>  may be linked to psychosis and creativity.
Apophenia
Psychopathy
Agoraphobia
Frotteuristic disorder
Intersexuality
Obsessive compulsive personality disorder
Paraphilia
Obsessive-compulsive disorder