We probably all know to keep an eye out for the dreaded white van. Even at my mature age I recall being terrified by well meaning teachers at primary school warning us all about child molesters. Being forced to watch terrifying old reel films of nasty men in darkened classrooms and thereby contributing to screaming nightmares over the years as a consequence.
Well just the other day and perhaps late to the party I heard for the first time in my life about the Red Car Theory. It was a discussion on the car radio about looking for and recognising opportunity by developing curiosity and awareness and the expert talked about the red car theory.
By way of example, he queried the program host as to how many red cars he had seen so far that day allowing for his journey to the studio in the city and on his walk to get lunch etc. “I can’t remember” was the answer and the expert shot back “So if I asked you to count all the red cars you see tomorrow I suggest that now that you are actually looking for red cars you might total up a fair number of them during your day”, and the host agreed possibly wondering what the point was.
“That’s the same with opportunity in your day-to-day life” the expert said. “If you are not actively and always looking for it, you won’t see it” he said. With that simple explanation it was like a light had been switched on in my battle worn scone with a hissed “Yes” escaping the lips.
It was so simple a metaphor but so true. You should always have the situational awareness of your world, your surroundings and of the simple things you are doing, and that others do in your own little existence. Did you know for example that the inventor of the post-it notes Mr Spencer Silver a scientist working for 3M accidentally invented a low-tack adhesive in 1968 but could not think of a use for it. However, his red-car spotter colleague Mr Art Fry saw opportunity…realised a use and so the post it notes were co-invented by those two subsequently extremely wealthy colleagues. Today the market value of post-it notes is over US $2 billion. (Source Gemini AI) noice!
Or who would have thought to bottle and sell bloody water! Normal ordinary everyday water that you can get for free. Sure bottling does go way back as in 1621 in the UK where water from the Holy Well at Malvern which was believed to have healing properties was sold in bottles. But that was for those poor ailing souls who could not visit the well themselves. However, the modern bottling and selling of a product that the purchaser can otherwise access for free by simply turning on a tap was someone’s, (no doubt a red-car spotter’s) bright idea in the late 20th century. Now the massive conglomerates (read Coca Cola) sell to us Olympic swimming pool amounts of ordinary bottled water every second of every day that again we could otherwise have had effectively free from our own taps.
So, what is the origin and who were the originators of the Red Car Theory?
In his article in the web page Medium of January 26/2024 James Dooley explains.
Where did the red car theory come from?
The Red Car Theory has been attributed to influential figures such as Thomas Edison, Charles Cooley, Abraham Maslow, and Seneca, who explored its core principles and applications. Thomas Edison’s revolutionary work in electrical engineering laid the groundwork for the Red Car Theory. His innovations in the power grid and electrification of transportation reshaped society’s understanding of mobility and progress. Meanwhile, Charles Cooley’s sociological investigations introduced the concept of the ‘looking-glass self.’ This resonated deeply with the theory’s emphasis on perception and identity. Abraham Maslow’s seminal ‘hierarchy of needs’ framework contributed to the theory’s understanding of individual motivation and desire. It reflected the human aspects within its application. The stoic philosophy of Seneca also intertwined with the theory, underscoring the importance of perspectives and resilience within the human experience.”
Behavioural scientists give some examples of how you might recognise the subtle effects of the Red Car Theory. For example, you deciding to purchase a particular make and model of car. Have you noticed that once you have made that decision that you suddenly see those cars everywhere. Or if you are on dating apps and you have listed that you like watching sunsets while on the beach you start to notice that many others on the site also like that activity.
AI advises that the Red Car Theory is a concept deeply rooted in psychology known also as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. It explains that once you are aware of something you start to see it everywhere. The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon is also known as frequency-illusion because once you are aware of something your brain’s selective attention is primed to notice it.
The conclusion of this blog is not just to live by the boy scout motto Always Be Prepared it’s really just keep your eyes and your mind open for opportunities and hopefully soon you will see them everywhere.
Regards
Magnum (Eyes Wide-Open)
For: Langtrees.com
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“This post makes psychology practical by connecting theory with real-life examples. ”
“Love this! The Red Car Theory is so true. I think we've all experienced it at one point or another. It's such a great reminder of how awareness shapes what we notice. In our world, we often see that once someone opens their mind to exploring new experiences, they start recognising possibilities for connection, pleasure, and even self-discovery that were always there, just waiting to be seen. Thanks for the good read, Magnum”
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