Forer Effect
Overview
The Forer effect (also the Barnum effect) is the tendency to accept vague, general statements as accurate and specific descriptions of oneself. In 1948 Bertram Forer gave his students a "personality analysis" assembled from horoscope columns, identical for every student, and asked them to rate its accuracy; the average was 4.3 out of 5. The statements were of the kind "you have a great need for other people to like you" and "at times you are extroverted, while at other times you are introverted".
Notes
- It works because such statements are true of almost everyone, because people search their memory for confirming instances (Confirmation Bias), and because being described feels like being understood. It is stronger when the subject believes the description was prepared for them personally and when it is flattering.
- It is the engine of astrology, tarot, psychic readings, graphology and a good deal of personality testing. A reading that would fit anyone cannot be evidence of insight into someone.
- The test is to ask whether the statement could be false of a person. If it could not, it carries no information.