Question

Before our conversation yesterday, Paul has never heard the word 'brouhaha.' Now he hears it everywhere he goes. What is the impact of our conversation on Paul's awareness of the word?

1) Paul is now using the word 'brouhaha' in his everyday conversations.
2) Paul is more likely to notice the word 'brouhaha' when he hears it.
3) Paul is no longer interested in learning new words.
4) Paul is confused about the meaning of the word 'brouhaha.'

Answer 1

The impact of our conversation on Paul's awareness of the word 'brouhaha' is that he is now more likely to notice the word when he hears it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The impact of our conversation on Paul's awareness of the word 'brouhaha' is that he is now more likely to notice the word when he hears it. This phenomenon is known as the frequency illusion or the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon.

When we learn a new word or concept, our brain becomes primed to recognize it in the future, making it stand out among other information. This can lead to the perception that the word suddenly appears more frequently, when in reality, it's our heightened awareness that is causing us to notice it more.

So, in the case of Paul, since he recently learned the word 'brouhaha' in our conversation, he is now more likely to notice it when it is mentioned in other conversations or encounters.