Variables Influencing The Effect
Studies have shown that the Barnum effect is seemingly universal - it has been observed in people from many different cultures and geographic locations. In 2009, psychologists Paul Rogers and Janice Soule conducted a study that compared the tendencies of Westerners to accept Barnum personality profiles to the tendencies of Chinese people. They were unable to find any significant differences .
However, later studies have found that subjects give higher accuracy ratings if the following are true:
- the subject believes that the analysis applies only to him or her, and thus applies their own meaning to the statements.
- the subject believes in the authority of the evaluator.
- the analysis lists mainly positive traits.
See Dickson and Kelly for a review of the literature.
Sex has also proven to play a role in how accurate the subject believes the description to be: women are more likely than men to believe that the vague statement is accurate.
The method in which the Barnum personality profiles are presented can also affect the extent to which people accept them as their own. For instance, Barnum profiles that are more personalized - perhaps containing a specific person's name - are more likely to yield higher acceptability ratings than those that could be applied to anyone.
Read more about this topic: Forer Effect
Famous quotes containing the words variables, influencing and/or effect:
“Science is feasible when the variables are few and can be enumerated; when their combinations are distinct and clear. We are tending toward the condition of science and aspiring to do it. The artist works out his own formulas; the interest of science lies in the art of making science.”
—Paul Valéry (1871–1945)
“It is ultimately in employers’ best interests to have their employees’ families functioning smoothly. In the long run, children who misbehave because they are inadequately supervised or marital partners who disapprove of their spouse’s work situation are productivity problems. Just as work affects parents and children, parents and children affect the workplace by influencing the employed parents’ morale, absenteeism, and productivity.”
—Ann C. Crouter (20th century)
“The pleasure of one’s effect on other people still exists in age—what’s called making a hit. But the hit is much rarer and made of different stuff.”
—Enid Bagnold (1889–1981)