Pareidolia is the tendency for perception to impose a meaningful interpretation on random or vague stimuli, usually visual, leading individuals to detect objects, patterns, or meanings where none exist. This cognitive phenomenon is a specific subset of apophenia, which refers to the human inclination to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things or ideas. Common examples include seeing faces in cloud formations or inanimate objects, as well as perceiving animal shapes in various patterns.
An iconic example of pareidolia is the 'Face on Mars', a rock formation that was observed in satellite images, which many interpreted as a human face, leading to speculation about extraterrestrial life.
To overcome pareidolia, one can practice mindfulness and critical thinking by questioning initial perceptions and taking time to analyze ambiguous stimuli without jumping to conclusions.