Barnum’s effect, or why do we believe in horoscopes

Forser Experiment: Why people believe in general phrases about themselves. How manipulators use the Barnum effect. Should I believe the fortune tellers and psychics. How not to get on the fishing rod

Believe in supernatural or remain skeptic – a personal choice of everyone who is unlikely to be discussed. Some people love to rely on dry facts and feel comfortable if their beliefs are realistic and they are easily checked by life. Others, on the contrary, are constantly looking for signs of fate, mysterious signs and communications, getting considerable pleasure if their guesses are confirmed.

Interestingly, women are more prone to the latter, and therefore more often men are interested in unknown: esoteric and occult sciences, ancient teachings, trendy trends of popular psychology, refer to psychics and fortune tellakam.

And even if in everyday life we ​​are guided by common sense and come to everything with the fraction of skepticism, no, no, and we will look at today’s horoscope – and smile a pleasant coincidence. 

What is the effect of Barnum

In the distant past, the American named Fineas Barnum, working in a circus, entertained the public, arranging the massive spectacular exposures of the magicians, false psychologists, fortune-law and other charlatans, and also himself was a skillful psychological manipulator.

And so the workshops did it that when sociologists were seriously interested in the phenomenon (in a scientific – cognitive dissonance, that is, the distortion of human ability to know himself and the world), then the name of Barnum’s name was identified by the identified effect. The second name of the effect is given by the name of his researcher – Psychologist Bertram R. Foroera.

Forover taught at the university and had the opportunity to put experiments on his students, namely, she announced that his course’s listeners would receive their psychological portrait, a specially compiled by a group of scientists personally for everyone.

Thus, he prepared the soil for the first condition of the experiment – the belief of the object is that the text of the portrait is composed of individually and competent personalities.

In fact, all students received the same text that Forewood was based on the most popular phrases of popular horoscope texts.  

Having received and read the portrait, the student was supposed to evaluate his correspondence on a 5-point scale. The overwhelming majority of participants agreed that the description truthfully describes their character, so the average score turned out to be 4.26.

Scientists who continued studies on the Ferra experiment proposed an interesting observation on its basis: a person believes to the accuracy and truthfulness of the description of his personality and character, if he thinks that it is done personally for him, although in fact it is only generalized and unclear phrases that with the same success may be approached by many others. 

Where the effect of Barnuma (Forier) is valid

The scope of application of this manipulation is wider than you can think. First, these are techniques of deception applied by charlatans who pump out money from the gurgling people in exchange for psychological advice, in fact, in fact, unqualified conversations on the themes of character, personality profile, and even tips for all occasions. Secondly, this is a whole personality testing industry and attempts to predict the future and fate.

This effect is wide, and notice, not prohibited use in the following areas:

• astrology;
• palmistry;
• numerology;
• socionics;
• physiognomy;
• Characteristic for blood group, name, eye color;
• pseududic teachings about guns;
• fortune telling on maps, coffee grounds, etc. 

This can also be safely attributed to the reading of the person, which the Gypsies, psychics and other extorters of funds are used by centuries. On the one hand, most of those who face the effect do not feel any harm, as in the case of reading weekly horoscopes in the newspaper – it is rather entertainment than a real landmark in life.

On the other hand, the consequences may be serious if instead for useless, and even harmful tips and predictions the manipulator thus wants to get his kush. Especially negatively, this practice affects people nervous and impressionable. 

What is the attractiveness of tests and predictions?

Indeed, why we are subject to challenge and delusions when it comes to the interpretation of our character traits and actions in completely unauthorized people? Do they really know how to turn off critics in us and make you believe in our superpandiness or a special gift?

The answer, as always, lies on the surface: we love to feel unique, it flashes attention to our person, and we still unreasonably appreciate the opinion of the so-called professionals about yourself. 

Hook a person in this respect is much easier if: 

• The manipulator looks competent (hereditary fortune teller, famous extrasens, scientist);
• The text is printed in the publication you trust;
• Before describing your personality, you are offered to participate in testing;
• You are customized to learn about yourself at least something interesting;
• You have reduced critical to statements in your address. 

And, of course, it is important for successful manipulation so that the object does not know about the existence of the Barnum effect in psychology. 

Believe or not: how to avoid traps

Even now, reading these lines, you are not completely protected from manipulators, considering you as easy prey, spaces, ready to listen to each of their words.

Defended from the charlatan technician – the case is not easy and requires the development of attentiveness, critical view and at least minimal confidence that your opinion also matters. Only in this case will you really find it difficult to convince, stick to your side or scare.

Distortion of perception can be avoided if you follow simple tips: 

• reject the truthfulness of applications in which there are no specifics;
• Do not fall on the bait of predictions in which words of type are used «Perhaps high probability there is a chance»;
• ignore the texts of horoscopes that are blurry to promise good luck in the case of, «If you show your best qualities»;
• Doubt each sentence: why it is that it is said, not otherwise? Are there enough facts? how many more people, besides me, will suit this description? Is there a real critic in the text, or you try to share compliments? 

If you feel that the proposed information is still important to you, try to test her source, because it often happens that the superpopular psychological test amounted to journalists from the newspaper, the British scientists are due to the verification – students of colleges, and the horoscope made you yesterday’s painter-strokery, decided to change the profession on a more profitable.

It is impossible to eradicate in a person a desire for someone to understand him and helped figure out problems and in itself, yes it is not necessary. Just now your goal is to carefully choose sources of information, especially if it is not a reason for you to smile, but the need to find your way in life.