The Barnum Forer Effect

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1. THE BARNUM FORER EFFECT
In what has been described as a "classic experiment", Psychologist Bertram Forer,
University of Massachusetts, gave a psychology test – his so-called "Diagnostic
Interest Blank" – to his psychology students, who were told that they would each
receive a brief personality sketch based on their test results.
One week later Forer gave each student a purportedly individualized sketch and
asked each of them to rate it on how well it applied to them. In reality, each student
received the same sketch, consisting of items like the following ….
Phine as Tay lor Bar nu m





On average, the students rated its accuracy as
4.30 on a scale of 0 (very poor) to 5 (excellent).
Only after the ratings were turned in was it
revealed that all students had received an
identical personality sketch assembled by Forer
from a newsstand astrology book.
This effect, sometimes called the Barnum Forer
effect or the Barnum effect can provide a partial
explanation for the widespread social learning
about some paranormal beliefs, practices and
the faith in some ‘so called’ tests and
assessments.
These characterizations are often used by
practitioners as a con-technique, nudging
victims into believing that they are endowed
with a paranormal gift. Because the assessment
statements are so vague, people ascribe their
own interpretation,
thus the statement becomes "personal" to them.
Also, individuals are more likely to accept
negative assessments of themselves if they
perceive the person presenting the assessment
as a potential high-status professional.








Have you experienced the Barnum Forer effect
lately?
ORIGINAL DRAFT

Psychologist Ross Stagner of Wisconsin
University, asked a number of personnel
managers to take a personality test.
After they had taken the test, Stagner, instead of
responding with feedback based on their actual
individual answers, presented each of them with
generalized feedback that had no relation to
their test answers but that was, instead, based on
horoscopes, graphological analyses, and the like.
Each of the managers was then asked how
accurate the assessment of him or her was. More
than half described the assessment as accurate,
and almost none describe d it as wron g.
Many years later, in what has been described as a
"classic ex periment", Psy chologist Forer, University
of Massachusetts, gave a psychology test – his
so-called "Diagnostic Interest Blank" – to his
psychology students, who were told that they
would each receive a brief personality sketch based
on their test results. One week later Forer gave each
student a purportedly individualized sketch and
asked each of the m to rate it on how well it applie d.
In reality, each student received the same sketch,
consistin g of ite ms like the followin g ….









The Barnum effect, also called the Forer effect or,
less commonly, the Barnum –Forer effect, is a
common psychological phenomenon whereby
individuals give high accuracy ratings to
descriptions of their personality that supposedly
are tailored specifically to them, yet which are in
fact vague and general enough to apply to a wide
range of people.
This effect can provide a partial explanation for
the widespread acceptance of some paranormal
beliefs and practices, such as astrology, fortune
telling, aura reading, and some types of
personality tests.
These characterizations are often used by
practitioners as a con-technique to convince
victims that they are endowed with a paranormal
gift. Because the assessment statements are so
vague, people ascribe their own interpretation,
thus the statement becomes "personal" to them,
integral to their habit formation.
Also, individuals are more likely to accept
negative assessments of themselves if they
perceive the person presenting the assessment
as a high-status professional.
Researcher Bertram Forer originally named it the
"fallacy of personal validation".
The effect has been said to confirm the
Pollyanna principle, where individuals tend "to
use or accept positive words of feedback more
frequently than negative words of feedback."[8]
Two factors are important in producing the Forer
effect, according to the findings of replication
studies. The content of the description offered is
important, with specific emphasis on the ratio of
positive to negative trait assessments. The other
important factor is that the subject, in their
learning journey, trusts the honesty of the
person providing feedback.


Author -







Founder, chief executive officer
JITHESH ANAND
Jithesh earned his Organisation
Development spurs at XLRI, TISS and ISABS. He
has 25 years of work experience, serving a range
of enterprises in various sectors, behind him. A
keen student of human behaviours and
technology applications to maximise enterprise
success, he is also a certified Neuro-Leadership
Coach and Applied Behaviours practitioner. His
energy is focussed on creating the best-in-class
products and technology applications to help our
customers revive, survive, and thrive.
EXACTLY !!
SO..TRUE !!
4.30
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOURS BETTER (1)
GULLIBILITY AND THE USE OF POSITIVE GENERALISATIONS
rating
Two factors are important in producing the
Barnum-Forer effect.
1) The content of the description offered is
important, with specific emphasis on the higher
ratio of positive to lower negative trait
assessments
2) The subject trusts the honesty of the person
providing feedback.
7. You have a great need for other people to like and admire you .
8. You have a ten dency to be critical of y ourself.
9. You have a great deal of unused capacity which you have not turned to y our advantage .
10. While you have some personality weaknesse s, y ou are generally able to compensate for the m.
11. Some of your aspirations ten d to be pretty unrealistic.
12. Security is one of your major goals in life ……and about a dozen more similar state ments
On average, the students rated its accuracy as 4.30 on a scale of 0 (very poor) to 5 (excellent). Only
after the ratings were turned in was it revealed that all students had received an identical vignette
assembled by Forer from a newsstand astrology book.[11] The vignette contained statements that
were vague and general enough to apply to most people.

1. You have a great need for other people to like and admire you
2. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself
3. You have a great deal of unused capacity which you have not turned to your advantage
4. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them
5. Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic
6. Security is one of your major goals in life……and about a dozen more similar statements!!

2. www.espl.io