Many of us are familiar with the “Spotlight Effect” – the psychological tendency of individuals to overestimate how much others notice and scrutinize their appearance, actions, and outcomes. Understanding of this framework helps people experiment and take action, by lowering the perceived risk.
Unfortunately, the framework fails seniors, who experience a sort of “Vanishing Effect” that is almost the opposite. Instead of OVERestimating focus on them (“I’m the center of the world”), they’ve experienced loss to an extent that they UNDERestimate it (“No one sees me…I don’t matter”).
As our parents and loved ones age, they may lose their partner, retire from work, withdraw from social circles, or limit physical activities. If you feel like you’ve got 10 spotlights on you in your prime, each of these phenomena might be like one spotlight going out…until it’s dark.
A feeling of vanishing from the world, in slow motion.
Understanding the Vanishing Effect and how it may apply to your parents or loved ones is the first step to helping them live their best lives. It’s about feeling noticed. Feeling important. Feeling recognized.
Let’s celebrate the experience elders bring to the table. Let’s strive to be mindful of older adults around us. Let’s give them the attention, love, and social recognition they deserve. Together, we can illuminate their lives.
Reference: The Spotlight Effect was first studied and coined by psychologists Thomas Gilovich and Kenneth Savitsky. Sahil Bloom has expanded upon the framework.
Author: Philip Marxen, Owner of Hallmark Homecare of South Charlotte