The Red Car Theory of Kindness

Have you seen a red car today? Most people would be unable to answer that question without a second thought. However, imagine if you were told you would receive $100 for every red car you noticed—suddenly, red cars would seem to appear everywhere you looked. This idea is the essence of the red car theory, which illustrates the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, also known as the frequency illusion. This is when something seems rare or invisible until it is brought to our attention, and then it appears to be everywhere. While this concept is often applied to professional opportunities, it can also be a powerful lens through which to view kindness in everyday life.

I remember the start of school last year. One day, a teacher praised our class for responding to teachers’ polite “How are you?” with a question in return. Until that moment, I had never realised the significance of such a small gesture; in fact, I barely remembered those fleeting exchanges. But after the teacher’s comment, I began to notice these moments everywhere—suddenly, I was aware of the opportunities to reciprocate, and I took the time to return the question many times. Though it was only a simple phrase, I was surprised by the genuine joy it brought to others. Something so minor became a way to connect with people and brighten their day, all because I started paying attention.

Philosophers have long debated whether kindness is an innate quality or something that is developed through experience and environment. While I cannot change the moral foundation I was born with, I do have the power to improve myself each day. As I began to actively seek out opportunities to be kind, I found that those opportunities seemed to multiply. The more importance I placed on kindness, the more instances I noticed—just like red cars on the road. All it takes is for us to place importance on kindness to trigger our brains to subconsciously look for moments to make a difference.

So, have you seen a red car today? Have you taken a moment to ask someone, “How are you?” Have you seized an opportunity to be kind?