Thinking of a ... word, can't think what it is (similar to hypochondria)

[planetexpress]

I know you're all impressed by my highly detailed title but that was all that came to me, sorry.

I think I read it somewhere, but it's a word to describe (I don't think it's hypochondria) when you hear about something, then purposely look for ways to justify it.

The subject it came up with was horoscopes, in that if you read a horoscope ("things will be lucky"), you'll find reasons to call things lucky even if they weren't, or even if, had you not read the horoscope, you wouldn't have thought they were lucky.

Yeah... sorry for the vagueness, and I'm not even sure if it's a word/condition/psych term, but I was just wondering if anyone could do better than I did :doh:

[Lepton]

I know you're all impressed by my highly detailed title but that was all that came to me, sorry.

I think I read it somewhere, but it's a word to describe (I don't think it's hypochondria) when you hear about something, then purposely look for ways to justify it.

The subject it came up with was horoscopes, in that if you read a horoscope ("things will be lucky"), you'll find reasons to call things lucky even if they weren't, or even if, had you not read the horoscope, you wouldn't have thought they were lucky.

Yeah... sorry for the vagueness, and I'm not even sure if it's a word/condition/psych term, but I was just wondering if anyone could do better than I did :doh:
You seem to be speaking about confirmation bias which in a sense is a form of cognitive dissonance.

[darkhunter]

rationalization ?

[Delvo]

Tolstoy Syndrome? Gullibility?

[Gillianren]

Self-fulfilling prophecy?

[ABR.]

Plausible acceptability?

[sarongsong]

...a word to describe...when you hear about something, then purposely look for ways to justify it...

:lol: :lol: Find all posts by Paul Leeks (http://www.bautforum.com/search.php?do=finduser&u=34338) :lol: :lol:

>ducks and runs<

[Nadme]

I think Lepton's is as close an answer as you'll find.

I'm not certain there is an actual word which defines what you're describing [and I've read a lot of Carl Jung ;) ].

[KaiYeves]

On a similar note, is there a word for the point in a story where the mystery actually begins. Not the point where the hero first meets the suspects, but the point when the first really mysterious thing happens?

[Fazor]

Self-fulfilling prophecy?

bah you beat me to it.

[slang]

I can't help you with the word you're looking for, although I like leptons and Gillianrens. What I've been trying to find is what that sort of language is called, the language used in astrology. I seem to remember that there was a word for that intentionally vague almost always applying to something stuff.

[clop]

Pronoia?

[sarongsong]

...is there a word for the point in a story where the mystery actually begins...Something to do with the revelation of Hitchcock's McGuffin (http://www.essortment.com/all/alfredhitchcoc_rvhd.htm) , perhaps:...the McGuffin has come to have a description formalized as: ‘A device or plot element that catches the viewer’s attention or drives the plot. It is generally something that every character is concerned with’...

The "McGuffin point" ? http://www.bautforum.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Lepton]

On a similar note, is there a word for the point in a story where the mystery actually begins. Not the point where the hero first meets the suspects, but the point when the first really mysterious thing happens?

Think the term you are looking for is "in medias res."

[planetexpress]

Thanks for all the answers guys! I think it was confirmation bias, but I guess there wasn't another word for it.

[Lepton]

Thanks for all the answers guys! I think it was confirmation bias, but I guess there wasn't another word for it.

Did I win a prize...even a choice behind 3 doors ala Monty Hall, I'll even dress in an outrageous costume if you want :lol: