Barnum Effect
The Forer effect is more frequently referred to as "The Barnum Effect". This term was coined in 1956 by American psychologist Paul Meehl in his essay, "Wanted - A Good Cookbook". He relates the vague personality descriptions used in certain "pseudo-successful" psychological tests to those given by entertainer and businessman P.T. Barnum, who was a notorious hoaxer.
Read more about this topic: Forer Effect, Origin of Term
Famous quotes containing the words barnum and/or effect:
“It’s a Barnum and Bailey world,
Just as phony as it can be.”
—E.Y. Harburg (1898–1981)
“Before the effect one believes in different causes than one does after the effect.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)