The Priming Effect

The priming effect is a psychological phenomenon where exposure to one stimulus influences how we respond to a subsequent, related stimulus. For example, if someone hears the word "yellow," they might be quicker to recognize the word "banana" than if they had just heard the word "grass." This occurs because the first word activates certain ideas or concepts in our minds, making related information more accessible. In the context of general knowledge, it means that our thoughts and decisions can be subtly shaped by what we've encountered previously, often without our conscious awareness.