A ball, bat and pitch in themselves mean nothing. Human minds have the unique ability to draw patterns, dots and connections from seemingly unrelated pieces of information. The patterns we draw are informed by our personal biases and narratives. Therefore, based on our personal context, that ball, bat and pitch could mean the sport of cricket, baseball, both or something completely different.

Much of the conspiracy theories as well as pieces of creativity are a product of Apophenia. The process typically involves an indivi- dual (or a group of individuals) piecing together random articles of observation, news and information to create convincing narra- tives. Even study of data and census is influenced by Apophenia. In many cases, it subconsciously determines the variables, sample audience and research parameters. It handicaps our ability to objectively analyse. Building on this core theme, Richard Schiller has written extensively on what he calls ‘narrative economics’. Narrative economics is ‘the study of the spread and dynamics of popular narratives, the stories, particularly those of human interest and emotions, and how these change through time, to understand economic fluctuations’.