The Spotlight Effect

The Spotlight Effect refers to the tendency for people to overestimate how much others notice and judge their appearance, actions, or mistakes. Essentially, individuals feel as if a spotlight is shining directly on them, making their slip-ups or imperfections seem more obvious and significant to others than they truly are. This psychological phenomenon can lead to unnecessary self-consciousness and anxiety, as people believe they are the focus of everyone’s attention when, in reality, others are typically much less observant or concerned than one might think.