Why Do Reports of Unintended Acceleration Increase for All Automakers After Publicized Incidents?

Explanation:

Investigations have indicated that following the publicity of unintended acceleration incidents, there tends to be a surge in reported cases across all automakers. This phenomenon can be attributed to a heightened awareness and sensitivity to the issue among the public. When such stories are highly publicized, drivers may become more vigilant or even anxious about their own vehicles' performances. This state of heightened awareness could lead to an increase in reporting of incidents that drivers may have previously overlooked, dismissed, or not recognized as potential unintended acceleration.

Moreover, sometimes there is a psychological effect known as confirmation bias, where individuals tend to notice and give weight to information that confirms their preconceptions. In this case, if the public is primed to believe that sudden acceleration is a common issue, they may be more likely to attribute any unexpected vehicle behavior to this defect. There can also be instances of mass psychogenic illness (MPI), where the intense media coverage and social concern can lead to a kind of collective anxiety and an uptick in reports tied more to fear than to actual mechanical issues.