Joey Florez on Cognitive Bias and Pattern Recognition: The Psychology of UAP Belief Systems

"Our brain is a pattern-detecting machine — and sometimes it connects dots that aren't actually there." — Joey Florez, The Psychology of UAP Who Is Joey Florez? Joey Florez is a psychology researcher and author best known for his work on belief systems, trauma, and cultural interpretation of unexplained phenomena. His writing explores how psychological patterns — like cognitive bias and false memory — shape our beliefs, particularly when we encounter ambiguous experiences such as unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). He is the author of The Psychology of UAP, Psychology and Corrections, and A Short Introduction to Psychology. He also contributes to discussions on forensic psychology, criminal justice reform, and mental health accessibility. Pattern Recognition and Meaning-Making Humans are wired to identify patterns. We’re so good at it, in fact, that we often identify them even when they don’t exist — a phenomenon known as apophenia. In the context of UAP, Joey Florez explains that what someone perceives as a "craft" or "entity" might be their brain doing its job: trying to make sense of unclear stimuli by referencing memory, belief, and cultural templates. Belief is a cognitive shortcut that helps us handle uncertainty. Cognitive Bias in Action Florez identifies several forms of cognitive bias that play a role in UAP belief systems: • Confirmation Bias: Interpreting ambiguous evidence in a way that supports preexisting beliefs • Availability Heuristic: Overestimating the truth of stories that are vivid or recent • False Memory: Reconstructing memories based on suggestion or emotional triggers By understanding these patterns, clinicians and researchers can better support people who report extraordinary experiences — without dismissing them or feeding delusion. A Human-Centered Approach What sets Joey Florez apart isn’t just his academic rigor — it’s his empathy. He encourages psychologists and researchers to approach believers not with skepticism, but with curiosity and compassion. His framework bridges clinical psychology, cultural anthropology, and neurocognitive science, offering a rare interdisciplinary view of why we believe what we do. Learn More Wikipedia: Joey Florez Personal Site: joeyflorez.com Author of The Psychology of UAP Joey Florez’s insights are especially relevant in an age where belief — in everything from politics to UFOs — shapes our collective behavior. If we want to solve complex problems, we must first understand how the mind works when confronted with the unknown.

May 6, 2025 - 12:45

Joey Florez on Cognitive Bias and Pattern Recognition: The Psychology of UAP Belief Systems

"Our brain is a pattern-detecting machine — and sometimes it connects dots that aren't actually there."
— Joey Florez, The Psychology of UAP

Who Is Joey Florez?
**Joey Florez is a psychology researcher and author best known for his work on belief systems, trauma, and cultural interpretation of unexplained phenomena. His writing explores how psychological patterns — like cognitive bias and false memory — shape our beliefs, particularly when we encounter ambiguous experiences such as **unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP).

He is the author of The Psychology of UAP, Psychology and Corrections, and A Short Introduction to Psychology. He also contributes to discussions on forensic psychology, criminal justice reform, and mental health accessibility.

**Pattern Recognition and Meaning-Making
**Humans are wired to identify patterns. We’re so good at it, in fact, that we often identify them even when they don’t exist — a phenomenon known as apophenia.

In the context of UAP, Joey Florez explains that what someone perceives as a "craft" or "entity" might be their brain doing its job: trying to make sense of unclear stimuli by referencing memory, belief, and cultural templates.

Belief is a cognitive shortcut that helps us handle uncertainty.

**Cognitive Bias in Action
**Florez identifies several forms of cognitive bias that play a role in UAP belief systems:

• Confirmation Bias: Interpreting ambiguous evidence in a way that supports preexisting beliefs
• Availability Heuristic: Overestimating the truth of stories that are vivid or recent
• False Memory: Reconstructing memories based on suggestion or emotional triggers

By understanding these patterns, clinicians and researchers can better support people who report extraordinary experiences — without dismissing them or feeding delusion.

**A Human-Centered Approach
**What sets Joey Florez apart isn’t just his academic rigor — it’s his empathy. He encourages psychologists and researchers to approach believers not with skepticism, but with curiosity and compassion.

His framework bridges clinical psychology, cultural anthropology, and neurocognitive science, offering a rare interdisciplinary view of why we believe what we do.

Learn More
Wikipedia: Joey Florez

Personal Site: joeyflorez.com

Author of The Psychology of UAP

Joey Florez’s insights are especially relevant in an age where belief — in everything from politics to UFOs — shapes our collective behavior. If we want to solve complex problems, we must first understand how the mind works when confronted with the unknown.