Why do people think flipping a coin repeatedly will change its outcome?
Observational interpretation fallacy
Why do people think flipping a coin repeatedly will change its outcome?
Imagine you're flipping a coin for fun, and after seeing heads ten times in a row, you think it's more likely to land on tails next. You might even bet against it.
This belief that past random events affect future ones is a cognitive bias called the gambler's fallacy. It's like thinking the coin's mood changes after ten heads.
Example
You bet on tails, but it lands on heads again. You might think the coin is "due" for tails, but it's just random chance.
Remember this
Remember, each coin flip is independent; past outcomes don't influence future ones.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Educational content, not financial advice.
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