Fate or Coincidence — When Random Events Feel Meant to Be

The Psychology of Superstition · Dec 7, 2025 · 5m

This episode explores why people interpret coincidences as signs of fate. It explains how the brain seeks patterns, uses narrative instinct to create meaning, and relies on hindsight bias to make events feel “meant to be.” Concepts like selective attention and apophenia show how ordinary coincidences become emotionally significant. While fate may not literally shape events, the beliefs people attach to coincidences can influence their decisions and behaviors—creating a self-made sense of destiny. Ultimately, the episode concludes that fate is less about cosmic design and more about the human…