Barnum effect

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The Barnum effect is a term from psychology . It describes the tendency of people to interpret vague and generally valid statements about themselves in such a way that they are perceived as an accurate description. This psychological phenomenon is also called the Forer effect or deception by personal validation ( English personal validation fallacy called).

The term was introduced by Paul Meehl and is named after the circus founder Phineas Taylor Barnum . This maintained a large cabinet of curiosities ( American Museum ), which should offer something for "every taste" (" a little something for everybody "). However, initial research on this phenomenon took place in Germany and France as early as the 1920s and 1930s. Essential aspects of the Barnum effect were anticipated under the name “verification phenomenon”.

Forers study

The American psychologist Bertram R. Forer describes an experiment carried out in 1948 in which he had his students complete a personality test. He then gave everyone a personal character description as a test result and asked them to rate the truthfulness of this evaluation on a scale from 0 ['poor' = unsatisfactory] to 5 ['perfect' = perfect]. The average was 4.26 points, so the majority of the evaluation was rated as very accurate.

In fact, Forer had not evaluated the test at all, but instead gave all participants the same following characterization [abbreviated here] as the alleged result, which he had constructed based on an earlier study in such a way that it should be as universally applicable as possible:

“You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. 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 also pride yourself as an independent thinker; and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. But 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 rather unrealistic. "

“They depend on the affection and admiration of others, but still tend to be self-critical. There are some weaknesses in your personality that you can generally make up for. Substantial skills leave you idle instead of using them to your advantage. Outwardly disciplined and self-controlled, you tend to feel anxious and insecure internally. Sometimes you have serious doubts about the correctness of your actions and your decisions. You prefer a certain amount of variety and change and are dissatisfied when you are hemmed in by prohibitions and restrictions. You take pride in your independent thinking and don't take other people's statements without evidence. Yet you find it unwise to be too willing to open up to others. Sometimes you behave in an extroverted, affable and open-minded manner, but then again in an introverted, skeptical and reserved manner. Some of your hopes are quite unrealistic. "

The test - with the same text - has been repeated many times since then. The average value of the “applies” rating was always around 4.

Barnum statements

All Barnum statements have in common that they lack objectivity and falsifiability . Above all, they emphasize aspects that are common to all people, or qualities that all people would like to have. In addition, they usually contain a subjective element that is subconsciously interpreted appropriately by the reader. For example, the statement "You don't like to take big risks" is perceived as correct by both fearful and reckless people. This is because the term “high risk” is not clearly defined and is therefore subjectively interpreted by the reader as “risk that I would not like to take”. Of course, the statement always applies.

Barnum statements are contained in newspaper horoscopes, for example, so that the American psychologist Bertram R. Forer could simply fall back on newspaper horoscopes for his test series. Barnum statements are also used in cold reading and fortune telling . The graphology is also considered under the aspect of the Barnum effect.

Typical Barnum statements come about through the following means, among others:

  • Basic fears that are common to many people, but are perceived as individual because little is said about them. Example: "You would do anything to protect your children."
  • Widespread desires, for example for a secure job, a healthy environment or a good relationship life
  • Statements mediating between two poles; Example: “You often act decisively, but are also often unsure how to behave.” Most people are familiar with both and therefore perceive the statement, which is not clearly weighted, to be applicable to them.
  • Fuzzy formulations such as “You tend to be lazy” are more likely to be accepted than concrete formulations such as “You have n't done anything today ”.
  • Suggested things : "Today could you hurt someone" suggests a trap, and the reader searches his memory (and will under certain circumstances) a matching process which is seen as confirmation - without coming to the idea, as aware of counterexamples to search.

Gauquelin's serial killer experiment

The French psychologist and statistician Michel Gauquelin examined the Barnum properties of blanket astrological personality profiles. In 1968 he sent 150 people whom he had recruited through a newspaper advertisement, their “very personal horoscope”. In fact, each person received the same text, a personality profile that was generated from text modules of one of the first astrology programs on the computer, the texts of which were written by the astrologer André Barbault. To create the horoscope, Gauquelin used the dates of birth of serial killer Marcel Petiot . Gauquelin then asked the test subjects to answer several questions, including whether they would recognize themselves and their personal problems in this profile. 94% of the 150 test persons answered this question in the affirmative, 90% found the description very appropriate.

Further and similar examples can be found in the list of classical experiments in psychology .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ BR Forer: The fallacy of personal validation; a classroom demonstration of gullibility. In: Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Volume 44, 1949, pp. 118-123, PMID 18110193 .
  2. ↑ Christoph Bördlein: Early research on the "Barnum effect" . In: Skeptics . tape 13 , no. 1 , 2000, pp. 44-45 .
  3. ^ R. Meili: Hasard et Psycho-Diagnostic . In: Archives de Psychology . tape 21 , 1928, pp. 198-207 .
  4. ↑ H. Krüger, K. Zietz: The verification problem . In: Journal of Applied Psychology . tape 45 , 1933, pp. 140-171 .
  5. ↑ Otto Bobertag: Comments on the Verification Problem . In: Journal of Applied Psychology . tape 46 , 1934, pp. 246-249 .
  6. ↑ Otto Bobertag: Is the graphology reliable? Kampmann, Heidelberg 1929.
  7. ↑ Michel Gauquelin: Dreams and Illusions of Astrology . Glover & Blair, London 1980, ISBN 978-0-906681-04-6 .