Barnum effect

Barnum effect (the Forer Effect) refers to individuals attributing high accuracy to descriptions of their personalities, which are actually vague and broadly applicable to many people. Coined by P.T. Barnum as "we've got something for everyone," it also goes by the Barnum Effect. This effect can partially explain widespread acceptance of beliefs and practices such as religion, astrology, fortune telling, graphology, and certain types of personality tests.

 

A related phenomenon is subjective validation, where beliefs or expectations create perceived connections between unrelated events. Thus, people seek consistency between their self-perception and their celestial readings.

 

 

Evidence of Forer's work

In 1948, psychologist Bertram Forer conducted a personality test with his students. He claimed that each unique personality analysis derived from the test results could be rated by his students from 0 (worst fit) to 5 (best fit). In reality, all students received the same analysis: "You have a great desire for other people to like and admire you. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. You have a great deal of unused capacity which you have not turned to your advantage. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside.

 

At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You pride yourself as an independent thinker and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. You have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic. Security is one of your major goals in life."

 

The average score was 4.26, and it was later revealed that each student received the exact same copy-pasted statements collected from various horoscopes. These statements have become known as Barnum statements post P.T. Barnum.

 

Repeat research: The validity of this research is guaranteed by two factors. It is important to emphasize the proportion of positive characteristics evaluations to negative ones. Another important factor is that participants have been given opinions based on honest and subjective evaluations.

 

The effect is found among many other cultural or geographic areas. In 2009, psychologists Paul Rogers and Janice Soule compared the tendency of Westerners and Chinese to accept Barnum personality descriptions. They found no significant differences, indicating universality in the acceptance of such vague statements.

 

However, subsequent studies indicate that participants are more likely to accept more accurate descriptions. When participants believe that the study applies only to them, they interpret the statements more personally. The lack of belief in astrology also impacts the participants more than the western and Chinese rationalists.