Why Do I Feel Like Someone's Watching Me?
Jason Schneider In 1898, a prominent Cornell psychologist named Edward Titchener used a few simple tests on his students to prove that the “feeling of being stared at” was a product of neurosis. He became convinced it was. But we’ve learned since there are likely more than just panicky feelings at play. The “stared at” paranoia could arise from several factors, one of which is confirmation bias. You remember those moments you turned around and saw someone staring at you, but you’ll forget the times when this was not the case. Or someone might be watching—just not with the intention you think: A sudden movement could have triggered an unintended glance from a stranger. And never discount the role of an overactive imagination. For instance, you might hear a sound behind you that’s too quiet to enter consciousness but loud enough...