Table of contents:
- What is the Barnum effect?
- Your traits are affected by the Barnum effect
- Benefits of the Barnum effect
Have you ever tried a personality test on line and get very accurate results? Or do you really fit the description of your zodiac sign and blood type? In the realm of psychology, this phenomenon is known as the Barnum effect.
This psychological effect is not only used to describe the personality of the zodiac, blood type, date of birth, or favorite color. You can even find it in various supernatural problems.
What is the Barnum effect?
Source: Astronaut
The Barnum effect is a psychological phenomenon when a person considers their description to be accurate and seems to have been made especially for them. In fact, the description is actually very general and can be applied to everyone.
This psychological effect makes personality test results based on your zodiac sign, favorite foods, or other random things seem like a perfect match for you. The same thing happens when someone reads tarot, aura, palm lines, or other paranormal things.
The results of the tarot test or reading that you get actually also apply to other people, whether you know them or not. However, this effect gives the impression that you are different, unique, and cannot be equated with anyone.
Your traits are affected by the Barnum effect
When you take a personality test, look back at the results. Launch California State University Department of Psychology, United States, there are some sentences that are often found on personality tests, but are actually the Barnum effect.
The following include:
- You need other people and want them to like you.
- You have a lot of untapped potential.
- It's easy to feel anxious and have something that makes you feel good insecure.
- You prefer a varied environment to the same routine.
- You will not simply trust other people if there is no proof.
- You tend to be self-critical.
- You sometimes doubt whether you have made the right decision.
- You are sometimes extroverted and sociable, but you can also be introverted and comfortable being alone.
- Even though you have weaknesses, you always try to overcome them.
After reading all of these statements and relating them to yourself, most of them seem to fit you perfectly. In fact, all the sentences above are examples of the Barnum effect that can be applied to other people.
You can test it in a simple way. Gather a few statements that are often on personality tests, then share them with two or three of your friends. Look at how many statements they find appropriate.
Benefits of the Barnum effect
The world of psychology has long studied the Barnum phenomenon and its uses. One of the benefits is that you can instill positive suggestions in others through this effect.
In one experiment, several scientists made a computer description of the personality of a group of people. On the other hand, the research subjects were also given other descriptions that were more personal, although not completely accurate.
The research subjects were more likely to trust the descriptions that were made personally for them. The Barnum effect also makes them believe more in positive sentences and distrust negative statements.
The Barnum effect has indeed led many to believe in horoscopes and various personality tests that cannot be proven scientifically. However, this effect can actually be used to instill good suggestions to others.
Humans tend to believe in the good qualities that exist in themselves. So you can use this to make yourself and others even better.
