In 2000, psychologists at Cornell made students wear an embarrassing Barry Manilow t-shirt into a room of strangers. The students estimated ~50% of people noticed. Actual number? About 20-25%.

A 2001 follow-up found that even when people DO notice your screwup, they judge you way less harshly than you expect. They've been there too.

Almost nobody noticed. The ones who did don't care. And you're the only one still thinking about it.

Gilovich, Medvec & Savitsky (2000). "The Spotlight Effect in Social Judgment." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Savitsky, Epley & Gilovich (2001). "Do Others Judge Us as Harshly as We Think?" Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

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