Researchers had college students wear a T-shirt showing 1970s singer Barry Manilow, picked to be embarrassing. Then each wearer briefly joined other students.
Afterward, the wearers guessed about half the others had noticed the shirt. Fewer than a quarter had.
Psychologists call this the spotlight effect: we feel watched far more than we are. Others aren't dwelling on our awkward moments like we are, so they notice less and judge more gently than we fear.