Have you ever taken any sort of test that tells you something about yourself? Millions of online tests are clickbait such as “Which Twilight character are you?” or “What colour room should you have based on your likes?”. If you have believed this to be the universal truth about yourself, you have fallen prey to the Barnum Effect.
In a formal sense, the Barnum effect, also known as the Forer effect, talks about how easily we can be swayed by specific statements that are broad enough to apply to many people. It was empirically demonstrated by psychologist Bertram R. Forer in 1948 in his experiment where he presented students with vague and general personality descriptions compiled from horoscopes. They were rated highly on the accuracy by the students, giving support to the definition. But where does the term “Barnum effect” come from? This phenomenon was named after P.T. Barnum, a famous showman known for his statement, “There's a sucker born every minute,” reflecting people's tendency to believe vague, general statements as personal. Psychologist Paul Meehl coined the term in 1956 to describe this phenomenon.
This phenomenon isn't limited to horoscopes. It's also prevalent in personality tests and psychological assessments, where people often see themselves in the descriptions provided, even if those descriptions are deliberately ambiguous. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), for example, shows you which of the 16 personality types one falls into, along with ambiguously worded personality type interpretations, However, the official test itself has been criticized for the same. People tend to accept these test results instantly but do they delve deeper into what the type exactly means and the cognitive mechanisms behind them? Because of this, although personality tests on the surface look relatable and fun, one must be aware of their cons as well.
The Flip Side
According to Margasiński (2021), even diagnostic tests and assessments can fall prey to this effect as they often use broad and general criteria that can apply to many individuals. This generalization can lead to over-diagnosis or misdiagnosis, as people may see themselves in the descriptions provided, even if they don't perfectly fit the specific condition. Thus, while diagnostic tests can be helpful, it's crucial to use them critically and in conjunction with professional judgment to avoid the pitfalls of the Barnum Effect.
When we generalize clinical diagnoses, we often overlook the person's unique qualities and experiences. We often treat them differently and broadly generalize and expect them to behave in a “sickly” way. This lack of nuance makes everyone prey to generalizing behavior and not taking into consideration each one’s uniqueness. Broad generalizations such as these and creating norms that we expect people to follow could make us more susceptible to the Barnum effect. Instead, it is best to view each person individually and treat them as such.
When bad things happen to us in life, we often attribute them to other bad things or symbols. A black cat crossed my path or I woke up on the wrong side of the bed hence my day has gone horribly. Making a vast generalization based on very little fact and not having any causal relationship would easily make anyone believe in abstract things.
However, the Barnum effect tends to be stronger when the nature of the statement is positive rather than negative (Jhonson et al, 1985). For example, if your horoscope today says “You will gain a bounty today” then you are more likely to believe it than one that says “You may face failure today”. Broad generalizations like “you want to make everyone happy” can be attributed to everyone in the world but once a person reads it about themselves, they believe it to be the utmost truth.
Therefore, reconstructing one’s self-concept would also be crucial. What sort of person are you? What do you want to become? These are important existential questions one can ask themselves before believing and following broad generalizations and self administered assessments. These may often be misleading and require one to discern truth from fiction.
If you truly want to know yourself, look inwards. Most therapy sessions and self-help coaches often preach that one needs to reflect and know their personality often without the help of external assessments. Researchers have also shown that confronting this confirmation bias of the Barnum effect directly, often causes the person to be disillusioned from believing in generalizations.
Also, remember that reliable psychological assessments are typically backed by scientific research and empirical data. Be skeptical of sources that lack credibility or scientific backing. Take time to reflect on how the information relates to your specific experiences and behaviors. Personalized reflection can help you identify which parts of an assessment truly resonate with you and which may be too general.
In clinical and corporate setups, a better alternative to blindly believing aptitude and diagnostic tests would be to make it a collaborative effort. This would be a process involving both the participant and the assessor in an open conversation and gaining inputs from both sides to inform a better decision. This approach can lead to more accurate and tailored assessments that address individual needs and goals. It also promotes a deeper understanding of the assessment process and its implications for personal growth and improvement.
Ultimately, embracing a critical and reflective mindset is key to navigating the complexities of personality assessments and psychological evaluations. While tools like personality tests can offer insights, they should not define you. Your identity and potential for growth are far too complex to be captured by any single assessment.
As Oscar Wilde once said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
Apoorva Thakur and Vaishali Ramesh
