Psychological effect noted by psychologist Bertram R. Forer in 1948, under which any fairly large and diverse group of people may come to believe that a tenuously balanced personality reading (especially one which, for the purpose of the test, is copied and handed out for them to ponder individually) applies strongly to each of them as individuals. Later studies have shown that the effect tends to be strongest when the recipient is given to understand that the reading has supposedly been tailored to them as an individual, that the person making the propositions is an authority they feel they can trust, and/or that most or all of the personality traits listed are positive ones, in other words flattering. The Forer effect may be of import in understanding the popularity of such pseudosciences as fortune telling or astrology.
Personality reading used to illuminate the Forer effect (thanks to Wikipedia):
You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You also pride yourself as an independent thinker; and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. But you have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be rather unrealistic.
Now ... how does this apply to YOU?
You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure on the inside. At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. You also pride yourself as an independent thinker; and do not accept others' statements without satisfactory proof. But you have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others. At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. Some of your aspirations tend to be rather unrealistic.
Now ... how does this apply to YOU?
by Fearman March 11, 2008
Get the Forer effectmug. A carbon mineshaft is a particularly deep carbon footprint, made by an individual, company or other entity that is spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at a truly extravagant rate.
The luxury beach resort demanded that exotic fruits and other foods be flown in, in whatever quantities could be managed, from right around the world, had a giant jacuzzi that gobbled oil at a rate of knots, regularly rented two or three luxury yachts with gas-guzzling engines, and also ran a luxury helicopter link to the mainland that was dependent on a wide range of other special deliveries. It was working up quite a carbon mineshaft.
by Fearman March 12, 2008
Get the carbon mineshaftmug. Morbid and (possibly) irrational fear that if you decide to do something different every day the CIA may decide to keep a close eye on you.
by Fearman March 06, 2008
Get the alloveniroscopophobiamug. After the latest adventure by the Bush and company, Joe's opinion of the United States government hit rock bottom and commenced vigorous drilling.
by Fearman August 09, 2007
Get the rock bottommug. by Fearman November 28, 2007
Get the killing kittensmug. Dilution used on a homeopathic preparation called Occilococcinum, made from freeze-dried powdered duck liver diluted one hundredfold in solvent 200 times over and supposedly of use in curing cold and flu symptoms. This dilution, if accurately labelled, would represent one molecule of (allegedly) active ingredient in 1 followed by 400 zeroes other molecules, or in other words somewhere between the fourth and fifth exponential powers of the total number of atoms in the observable Universe.
by Fearman December 28, 2007
Get the 200Cmug. A "majority" derived by excluding those likely to disagree. The type of majority that voted in "President" Bush in 2000.
by Fearman December 23, 2007
Get the Florida majoritymug.