illusory correlation

n. Illusory correlation is the tendency to attribute an association erroneously between two statistically independent variables. People tend to perceive an illusory correlation between two infrequently encountered stimuli that seem to go together (e.g., old age and wisdom). Illusory correlation has been used to explain the perpetuation of minority stereotypes. For example, although mental patients and nonpatients may be equally likely to display physical violence, because mental patients are a minority in the population and violent behaviors are infrequent, people may misperceive an association between mental illness and physical violence.

- YHK, CYC