The feeling of familiarity with someone you've never met can be attributed to several psychological phenomena, including:
Implicit Memory: Our brains can store information and experiences without conscious awareness. So, even if you don't consciously remember meeting someone, your brain may have picked up on subtle cues or similarities that create a sense of familiarity.
Mere Exposure Effect: This phenomenon suggests that people tend to develop a preference for things or people they are exposed to more frequently. So, if you've seen someone's face or heard their name several times, you might feel familiar with them, even if you've never actually met them.
Social Media and Online Presence: In today's interconnected world, you can be exposed to various aspects of a person's life through social media, videos, or online content. This exposure can create a sense of familiarity with individuals you've never had direct contact with.
Similarity to Familiar People: Sometimes, people you've never met might bear a resemblance or have similar traits to individuals you know or admire. This resemblance can trigger a feeling of familiarity.
Shared Background or Interests: If you discover that someone shares similar backgrounds, interests, or experiences with you, you may feel a sense of connection and familiarity, even if you've never met them personally.
Psychological Projection: In some cases, when people remind you of aspects of yourself, you might project those similarities onto them, creating a feeling of familiarity.
Intuition or Gut Feeling: Human intuition can be a powerful tool, and sometimes, you might sense a connection with someone on a subconscious level, leading to a feeling of familiarity.
Past Lives and Reincarnation: Some individuals believe in the concept of past lives and reincarnation, which might lead them to feel a spiritual or inexplicable connection to others.
It's essential to recognize that feeling familiar with someone you've never met doesn't necessarily imply that you've had previous interactions with them. Instead, it often reflects the complex and nuanced ways our brains process information and make connections between various stimuli.