In this instance, our bias is to think that generalizations apply to us personally.
Edward Ratush, a Board Certified Psychiatrist and co-founder of SOHOMD.
Chances are you have fallen victim to the Barnum effect at one point or another in your life.
Elizabeth Fernandez/Moment/Getty Images
When we’re isolated and disconnected, we don’t thrive.
In addition to wanting to connect, we also want life to be meaningful.
Lastly, the Barnum effect enables us to not have tooverthink.
Rather, they’re the result of how we felt when reading the description."
It’s no wonder this bias exists!
Here are some examples of it.
When we become vulnerable to believing things that aren’t necessarily true, we become more vulnerable.
That vulnerability can lead us to be taken advantage of.
“This is why con-men prey on people who are struggling in some way.
It’s easier to make a connection because the mark is already running on autopilot,” explains Ratush.
Consciousness and presence of mind are key to not falling prey to the Barnum effect.
““The best defense we have is recognition of the Barnum Effect,” says Ratush.
Ingesting content with a keener eye is key.
Remember that the Barnum effect exists, and it may be clouding your judgment.
But the act of recognizing it is the biggest step to overcoming it.
44, 118-123
House JS, Landis KR, Umberson D.Social relationships and health.Science.
1988;241(4865):540-545.
