Glossary
Spotlight Effect
What is the spotlight effect?
The spotlight effect is overestimating how much other people notice your appearance or actions. You may feel as though you are under a spotlight while others are paying less attention than you think.
Original evidence
In the original studies, participants overestimated how many observers would remember a picture on their T-shirt and how prominent their comments were in a group discussion.
Why it matters
Feeling conspicuous does not establish how much anyone noticed. But the effect is not a promise that an awkward moment went unseen.