Worth noting that my experiment has some built-in implicit bias. Offering personality tests on the beach means I’m only going to get participants who, a.) Want a personality test and b.) Give me the benefit of the doubt as a stranger. We may have seen different results if my model were different. However, my (few) results appeared consistent with earlier findings. Other random info: - Apologies for the audio quality for the beach footage. I forgot my windscreen and, as such, had to try to repair the audio as best I could. - Participants did get their actual results from the Big Five test afterwards. - In case you were wondering, this did not require IRB approval since it does not qualify under the definition of research. - My sample size was small (7 participants), so the results are not meant to be scientific, but rather to demonstrate the effect. - If you haven’t seen the Crossing Over episode of South Park, check it out.
I was thinking of pointing out the biases that your experiment had but then realized that basically all psych experiments use undergraduates who volunteer to participate which is also a biased sample so sampling beach goers that are willing to take part in a personality test isn't that much worse.
Neuro Transmissions I really appreciate you taking the time to point out the limitations. This is similar to the experiment done using astrological signs. Thanks for the great videos! New to the channel.
Another systematic bias of the experiment is that you will tend to get people saying that it's accurate because...it's written to be accurate. I'm not really a fan of personality tests and I don't put that much stock in what they tell me for a few reasons, but of course I would be forced to agree that the description was extremely accurate if it was written so that it would almost always be true. It doesn't exactly change results but it does take away the "oh wow, everyone thought this was accurate; we're all sheep" explanation. Obviously we need to watch out for BS statements but this information can be easily used to shape other BS statements.
In 1992, during a Word Perfect class in college, (wow, that's dated), the teacher used that trick as a tool to teach us document formatting in a fun way to do boring stuff. One day, he asked our date, time and location of birth, next day gave us all a sealed envelope with our individual personality result, asked us to recreate his document in our computers (thus learning to use WP) and then asked us to Rate his accuracy. Most of the 24 students gave a 80 to 90 and even 100% result. Then he asked us to exchange "our" result with the next student... It took us only a few lines before everybody started looking around and realising we all had the same page. He then explained the phenomena . Learned WP, learned Science! Cool teaching moment.
I once read this book of a psych professor who had given people the character description of a serial killer. And almost all of his students could recognize their own character in it. I'm not exactly sure whether he used the Barnum effect or something else but it's quite similar 😂😂
Yeah, it's rather disappointing when you realize how susceptible everyone (including yourself) is to the Barnum Effect and other techniques that can get you to think or behave a certain way (ie framing, group think, etc). I guess it's good that knowing about the existence of those techniques, skepticism, etc makes them less effective on you but all it takes is being tired or feeling off and just taking a single mental shortcut that leads you astray. Also I absolutely loved the tinfoil hat joke!
That’s true but I also think that people can use it to their benefit. For example, there are bots that write randomized daily horoscopes. You know for sure that it’s random but you also know that you can make sense out of it because of the Barnum’s effect, and as a result you can actually use this random text to lift up your mood, set expectations for the day and make it less boring. That is also why I personally love abstract art - it’s like you don’t look at the painting someone made but rather look inside your own thoughts, which helps you reflect and meditate sort of :) So human’s ability to make sense out of senseless is both a curse and a blessing
@@imheretofindasmr8990 That's an interesting perspective I haven't considered before. Kinda like a placebo effect except applied to verbal manipulation.
Same! My psych professor did this in college too! I recall not falling for it after noticing things were “off” when the results summaries were seemingly handed out at random in the lecture hall. Surprisingly, most of the class still thought it was real. But I wonder if I’d have fallen for it if the experiment were better-controlled. Stay wise my friend! 😄
Him: I’m sure you’ve taken a few “personality test” online that tell you why you struggle to keep a relationship... Me: Pfft, no that’s silly! Him: ...or which Harry Potter character you are Me: ...
I watch astrology videos all the time. I think they are like Rorschach tests and can get you thinking creatively about the things going on in your life.
I gotta give grieving people a pass. Most people would do anything to speak with a deceased loved one. I don't think they are stupid or anything for seeing a medium or psychic. I think they're at a point where they will try anything on the off chance that it MIGHT be real. I have more of an issue with people who take advantage of these types of people. Taking money from grieving, susceptible people makes them the scum of the earth. People who believe in astrology and essential oils though, they're just idiots.
I have very smart friends I want to show this to... The popularity of astrology nowadays is really annoying... And they get really offended if you call them out on the pseudoscience. I've known about Barnum statements for a while now, didn't know they had a name and this whole thing behind them. But it's a really good thing to watch out for.
Astrology is still a fact anyways and we know it bc we feel the energies , ever since i got into astrology i guesed like 4 ppl zodic signs , and if astrology is not real so are u also gonna say to me that around a certain time of the year , like for example dont you think the middle of sumer has diferent energies than middle of fall or spring . And if astrology is not real than what is the meaning of the moon , saturn all this planets. Bc the sun is how we see ourselves , actions and our awarenness , the moon is our emotions , mars is agression and passion etc.
I tried to make this exact point in my psych class the other day (with a very pro-personality-test teacher) - I might share this video with the class, loved the video! I'll make my tin foil hat immediately ;) (also, I'm one of those few watching subscribers, appreciate this channel, keep up the great work!)
I spent 10 mins looking for this video. Holy crap, it didn't come up in my search results or yt searches. I then tried all my yt subscriptions to see who could have posted the video. I'm subbed to 600+ channels. Took a while but I'm glad I found it, I really like this video. I wanted to share it with a friend. I was thinking, what would have happened if I had not gone looking for this video (going thru 50+ science channels is not easy), I have been subbed to this channel for quite a while and have already binged quite a few videos, so I (as is my habit) will not go through the back catalogue once again to binge vids, cuz in my mind I've already done so. So the chances of me finding this video would be close to zero I just realized, this would have been like an experience for me, one that shaped me, but something I cannot go back to... I'm so glad I was able to find this video. I have now made a new playlist in which I'll keep videos that I'm too scared to lose to time.
Of more immediate concern to people who might be looking for a new partner in life, there are some unscrupulous people who use these "Barnum statements" (or 'come-ons' as my Mother would say) to convince others that they are the one person who really gets them. I explained this to one friend who asked me how they kept ending up with such losers, they took it to heart and are now happily married. It's simple, when someone says something that really seems to connect with you, how vague are they being? If they start vague, and seem to get more in tune with you as the evening progresses, they might be the one, or they might be really good at 'come-ons'.
Yicks, now I'll be overthinking all my interactions wondering if I or whoever I'm interacting with is doing that. Overall I feel like I get my gf better than I get the average person (and the same applies for her getting me) but now I'm worried that there's an unintentional Barnum component to what we think we know about each other? Ugh, guess I'm already overthinking shit. fml.
@@beskamir5977 I think that when it is problematic is when someone is disingenuous to manipulate another person's emotions. If you are not doing that, then you are probably okay. The old adage, "all's fair in love and war," is not true in love nor war.
Lol I thought I was one of the 90% non-subscribed but apparently I was before soooooo I'm the best. Thank you very much. Nah honestly great video. I wish you'd show up more in my subscription feed
I subscribed immediately after watching only one video😁 the test if your cats love you. It was better then anticipated. Psychology or anything brain-related? Hell yeah give it to me.
This is great... I can tell I'll be making good use of sharing it in future 😁 Re the reason for uprise in silly beliefs, i personally don't think the financial crisis would have affected people of those ages enough to impact their future interests/beliefs. For me, it's 90% down to social media. Whilst previously the most exposure many got to horoscopes was a small, forgettable column in the back of a newspaper or magazine, it's now easy for social feeds to be flooded with the subject, just as a result of liking one post or watching a video. And then they see all the positive comments, it's easy to see how someone can be enticed by it.
Any RUclipsr is performing above average if even 0.5% of their viewers are subscribed to the channel. You are actually way above average at 1.8%. Either way, I just subbed you.
Great video and explanation! You put a lot of effort into this and it's really convincing. Btw our first names are pronounced the same way, never heard your's before. (Mine is German.)
Highly underrated video. Subscribed for the knowledge, fun personality, and good science! (hate annoying youtubers who ask you to subscribe before you ever see any of their content.) But man, don't be afraid to ask for subscribers in the middle of the video and say it really helps you makes more and better content! Subscribed after watching 5 videos of yours.
I would like to add a perspective here. First, it's valuable and important to be aware of these psychological phenomenon, and more importantly, to realize that we are all susceptible to them, and the only real way to protect yourself from that susceptibility is to be actively entertaining the knowledge that you are susceptible to a particular psychological influence in a particular situation. However, I would also like to correct an implicit assumption, here. When you post a video like this, you are suggesting that people have been mislead by the Barnum effect, into thinking that something which is true when it is not. That is incorrect, of course, but some of your viewers might fail to recognize the implicit assumption being made here. This video makes a very clear, persuasive argument - don't believe everything you're told, because you're not foolish like those people who believe in "pseudoscience". So let me add a perspective to that assumption, if no one minds hearing my view on this. Generalizations are useful, and often true. They teach us about ourselves. Psychologically, being presented with generalizations in a particular order, or a particular context, can be a powerful mechanism for realizing information you already knew to begin with. I had this discussion with a friend who enjoys tarot card readings, and we discussed readers that you tubers had participated in, and whether those videos were a set up, because they seemed to "accurate" to be reflective of reality. What we decided is that the beauty of tarot readings is that, much like a therapist, they urge a line of thinking that you would likely not have engaged in without the context of a particular social interaction, and in engaging in this thought process, you discover realizations, and you prime yourself to be more self-aware of your environment, the changes within it, and your reaction to those things. So the suggested here that the Barnum effect is a "bad thing" is one that I disagree with. As is often the case with science, what should be said of this effect is that it IS a thing. The feelings about that thing are, frankly, not only irrelevant to topic, but also, unhelpful to humans. This line of thinking is what causes scientific arrogance, and scientific arrogance, I feel, can instigate the development of bias. I would like to touch on things like the zodiac, and personality tests. This, again, is not a thing which is necessary to scoff at. The reason these things become an issue of judgement is that they tend towards developing an extremist audience, which causes unwary people who would have normally sufficed to stay critically-minded, to become biased in the opposite direction. You tend to see this a lot in political debates, as well. The sun signs of the zodiac are not necessarily "nonsense". (Virgo, gemini - things like that). What they are, more or less, is a collection of observations formed into a soft theory a long time ago. They may be useful to you, or they may not be useful to you, much in the way that overly generalized "words of wisdom" from Confucius may or may not be useful to you. This is the nature of generalizations, or things which seek to generalize. The objective in arts like tarot cards and zodiacs is to be more right than wrong. The performance of personality-seeking, and fate-seeking activities is primarily geared around challenging the individual to engage in reflection regarding themselves and their lives, in a way that would be difficult to achieve independently. I think these things are useful. In particular, I think that any scientist who cannot appreciate the value in these things is either lacking in one or more of the following: knowledge, wisdom, objectiveness, and/or independence of mind. It's easy to get a laugh out of scoffing at something you think is intellectually beneath you, due to your superior education and your awareness of a thing like the barren effect. By contrast, it is significantly more difficult, socially speaking, to call yourself a scientifically-minded individual who is also capable of understanding the utility of things that were not scientifically founded, have not been proven, or are otherwise inconsistently accurate or of dubious validity. However, I feel like, if you are a scientifically-minded individual - you need to learn how to take that approach in life. I feel that way because, if you haven't noticed, a lot of our modern science has become disappointing. There are far too many people beholding to scientific theories as if they are unquestionable fact, for instance, or citing one or two scientific studies as if they've proven a stance beyond a shadow of a doubt. All of this kind of behavior, in my mind, stems from the increasing arrogance surrounding the sciences, and true scientists these days seem to be something of a dying breed, because a person who really understands science is probably going to be one of the least definitive people you will ever meet. I appreciated this experiment on the Barnum effect, and of course, I completely understand that videos like this are funded by sensationalism, and that such a spin is not only necessary for the health of the channel, but also valuable, in that using it helps to educate a larger audience of laymen who will now be better prepared to protect themselves from those would would manipulate them knowingly or unknowingly, using this phenomenon. Hopefully, my comment isn't taken as criticism of this video. Knowing what I know about marketing, and being a person who is passionate about raising the standard of critical thinking in our culture, I have absolutely no issues with this video. I'm just hoping to add an additional perspective here. Thanks!
Also don't forget the effect of people wanting to be nice and not to disagree or to appear disagreeable by needlessly stating that the quality of your assessment of them is inaccurate. People might say "seems pretty accurate" when if they were given the opportunity to assess the accuracy of that assessment anonymously or to tell their friend privately, they may reveal that they didn't really think it was accurate. I'm not saying this is a reason to believe personality test results of course, but it does cast some doubt on this method's ability to prove the universality of personality assessments. Such assessments may be judged by people not to suit them more often if this bias was removed from the experimental conditions.
I love that you say not to make the tin foil hat, if only because doing so won’t cause harm to anyone. It won’t prevent the Barnum effect but it could become the next big fashion trend or something.
This is so funny because I actually had the opposite of this experience recently! I took the 16personality test and was... dissatisfied with my results despite having put serious thought into each of my answers. I forgot the exact one that I got, but I was confident that was not my personality and it seemed they felt the same. However, when asking my friends about this they actually got irritated with me and claimed “You must have taken the test wrong!” or “No you’re wrong, you must be that personality.” Weird!
I think the only time things like these tests don't trick people is when they're already skeptical about everything. But there is a slight trade-off because now it's impossible for me to ignore all those fake stories on instagram without being annoyed by them lol. Like jokes aside it's pretty taxing to always be skeptical and analyzing things and I can't really blame people for just wanting to accept and not spend too much time thinking about them.
Totally agree thanks for teaching us the specifics and name of this kind of manipulation. I'm naturally a questioner (according to Gretchen Reuben) so I was always sceptical. I used to call them "Kung Fu Master Statements" intended to make you fill in the gaps & find your destiny lol.
• 0:06 - "Free personality test" - Do I have to hold cans and buy crappy books? ¬_¬ (I'm surprised you got any bites; I guess not everybody is aware of Scientology traps. 😒) • 5:44 - I noticed this a long time ago; horoscopes often seem fitting, but unlike most people, I also read the other 11 horoscopes to see how they also seem to apply. :-|
Equally as valid as "real personality tests". Personality psychology needs to go the way of the dodo, it's causing people to not seek proper treatment or qualified feedback.
That's not why it's called Barnum effect. He didn't create Barnum Statements. Its based on a quote he said along the lines of " we have something for everyone [in his circus]". That's why its callef Barnum statements/effect. He himself didn't make barnum statements on people
I am susceptible to these jedi mind tricks - I think it’s mostly my own brain tricking itself. I am very curious and openminded. This is a blessing and a curse since I sometimes cannot get myself to confidently land on a descision (THERE IS THIS AND THAT AND SO MANY FACTORS TO CONSIDER) Anyway - I’ve long looked at myself as a logical being - a man of science - but I have this thought that not everything can be explained by science (yet) This is where astrology came into play for me - I have never been a nut about it- but I have always found it really interesting and fell into the trap - came out of it cursing at how dumb it is - fell back into it ect. I think my brain is trying to be open minded and consider the posibility the universe is not what we think/see with our current understanding and that the universe is moving like some sort of clock. (We would say it’s hot during the summer or at 2 AM it’s dark outside) and then maybe - “born in august 24th 2.30 - You have X, Y and Z traits» I’m «afraid» to rule it out and giving it a look every couple of months doesnt kill me - but I’ve never made any decisions based on it. In the high likelyhood it’s just 100% BS with no merit it’s still pretty harmless
I'm suprised about the fact that when people actually test this, they don't consider the ENTIRE concept of astrology. it's not just determining your SUN sign but ur entire CHART, u have to understand that.
young man your style is amazing prolific production of content in this style will create a massive following, how to have people take action! 1. it saves them time, because they don't have to search for it, because they know they want it and more. 2. their kids brains grow from the efficiency the topics and your style of delivery. 3. and lets utilize the law of vibration to our favor, start sharing how amazing it is that you and you team has jumped to a 97% subscribe rating and FYI A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH ON network marketing, aka MLM are not only amazing training in becoming an entrepreneur and in post covid world its required, did you know that when a person joins one of those businesses, that they now have access to 360 plus taxes write offs. there are two types of taxes. most think they are one tax for he poor and one for he wealthy, not so!!!! there is one for a business owner and one for employees. an employee has 4 write off when speaking taxes. any way reread his again until it sinks in.... just like we watch your videos over and over, to learn the power information you are sharing
My problem with most debunking videos that I find is that they are made from people who don't have a true understanding of natal charts. I am a follower of science and I don't think that spreading this type of information is helpful unless you know both sides. I appreciate the attempt but this is not effectively explained how my or other people's chart are so accurate
The video _does_ explain why they're so "accurate" though. It's because it's general enough that you can fill in the blanks to make it seem so accurate to your life. That doesn't mean natal charts are bad or anything. You may find deep meaning in them and they can be a useful tool for exploring yourself, but at the end of the day they are simply broad generalizations that you ascribe more meaning to, not predictive text. I hope that makes sense.
Now think on what happens if someone learns a loooot of those commonalities between people, and maybe not only the superficial ones, but you actually learn to look indept in a culture, lets say you live ina a small country, you get SO GOOD that you can actually predict full conversations with names of celebrities, show names, movies, and even family members names and PERSONAL stories about them...So is the Barnum effect BAD or INNEFECTIVE or a lie? I think its a tool and a VERY effective one
You admit that all the statements are generic and really can apply to anyone and then imply people are gullible when they say these statements, that apply to everyone, apply to them. This would be a more effective study if they statements weren't so general.
The point is that these general statements seem individualized and personal based on responses, which they are not. The point is that they are generic, but are viewed as insightful or holding some deeper truth about the person. It’s posing as something it is not.
@neurotransmissions yeah, I get that. I'm saying that just because something is a generalized statement doesn't mean it can't hold special meaning for individuals as well and be generally true. I think Barnum's assertions seem arrogant, pessimistic, and deceptive. I think to actually prove his point, he would need to show that people accept things that weren't true about them. Not just assign increased value to a true statement. Does that make sense?
This video is good and astrology is still my truth Also it makes a lot of sense bc most people don’t truly know or understand themselves they just claim they do. Of course their gonna comply with whatever you tell them.
So are you saying FFM is bullshit? Maybe you should clarify your position on FFM so people don't get confused. The video comes across as a criticism of FFM as somehow being the same as astrology, even though that isn't stated implicitly.
Worth noting that my experiment has some built-in implicit bias. Offering personality tests on the beach means I’m only going to get participants who, a.) Want a personality test and b.) Give me the benefit of the doubt as a stranger. We may have seen different results if my model were different. However, my (few) results appeared consistent with earlier findings.
Other random info:
- Apologies for the audio quality for the beach footage. I forgot my windscreen and, as such, had to try to repair the audio as best I could.
- Participants did get their actual results from the Big Five test afterwards.
- In case you were wondering, this did not require IRB approval since it does not qualify under the definition of research.
- My sample size was small (7 participants), so the results are not meant to be scientific, but rather to demonstrate the effect.
- If you haven’t seen the Crossing Over episode of South Park, check it out.
You should try forcing people to take the test while under tickle torture.
I was thinking of pointing out the biases that your experiment had but then realized that basically all psych experiments use undergraduates who volunteer to participate which is also a biased sample so sampling beach goers that are willing to take part in a personality test isn't that much worse.
Neuro Transmissions I really appreciate you taking the time to point out the limitations. This is similar to the experiment done using astrological signs. Thanks for the great videos! New to the channel.
Another systematic bias of the experiment is that you will tend to get people saying that it's accurate because...it's written to be accurate. I'm not really a fan of personality tests and I don't put that much stock in what they tell me for a few reasons, but of course I would be forced to agree that the description was extremely accurate if it was written so that it would almost always be true. It doesn't exactly change results but it does take away the "oh wow, everyone thought this was accurate; we're all sheep" explanation. Obviously we need to watch out for BS statements but this information can be easily used to shape other BS statements.
i did a horoscope once and it told me i was smart because the moon was in saturn or something 😎.
mine told me i was rational because mars paralleled venus at 1°02’ when i was born
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@Mark Lesar oops
I don't see how a sexual relationship between the gods Apollo and Saturn affect someone's intelligence.
@@UnrelatedAntonym yeah, that may be hard to grasp for someone with your birth date 😔.
In 1992, during a Word Perfect class in college, (wow, that's dated), the teacher used that trick as a tool to teach us document formatting in a fun way to do boring stuff. One day, he asked our date, time and location of birth, next day gave us all a sealed envelope with our individual personality result, asked us to recreate his document in our computers (thus learning to use WP) and then asked us to Rate his accuracy. Most of the 24 students gave a 80 to 90 and even 100% result. Then he asked us to exchange "our" result with the next student... It took us only a few lines before everybody started looking around and realising we all had the same page. He then explained the phenomena . Learned WP, learned Science! Cool teaching moment.
Haha nice one
I was starting college in 92 lol
Astrology is the science of throwing a dart at a wall and drawing the target around it. (I am subscribed) Great channel!
I once read this book of a psych professor who had given people the character description of a serial killer. And almost all of his students could recognize their own character in it.
I'm not exactly sure whether he used the Barnum effect or something else but it's quite similar 😂😂
Lol, that’s hilarious. If you find a link to it, send it my way! I’d love to read about it.
Yeah, it's rather disappointing when you realize how susceptible everyone (including yourself) is to the Barnum Effect and other techniques that can get you to think or behave a certain way (ie framing, group think, etc). I guess it's good that knowing about the existence of those techniques, skepticism, etc makes them less effective on you but all it takes is being tired or feeling off and just taking a single mental shortcut that leads you astray.
Also I absolutely loved the tinfoil hat joke!
The Juggernaut uses it.
That’s true but I also think that people can use it to their benefit. For example, there are bots that write randomized daily horoscopes. You know for sure that it’s random but you also know that you can make sense out of it because of the Barnum’s effect, and as a result you can actually use this random text to lift up your mood, set expectations for the day and make it less boring. That is also why I personally love abstract art - it’s like you don’t look at the painting someone made but rather look inside your own thoughts, which helps you reflect and meditate sort of :) So human’s ability to make sense out of senseless is both a curse and a blessing
@@imheretofindasmr8990 That's an interesting perspective I haven't considered before. Kinda like a placebo effect except applied to verbal manipulation.
I took Psyc 101 back in the 60s. Our prof gave us this same scam. From the comfort of my den, it’s was easy to see you coming 👀
Same! My psych professor did this in college too! I recall not falling for it after noticing things were “off” when the results summaries were seemingly handed out at random in the lecture hall. Surprisingly, most of the class still thought it was real. But I wonder if I’d have fallen for it if the experiment were better-controlled. Stay wise my friend! 😄
Wow! You are spot on! I'm the best!
Him: I’m sure you’ve taken a few “personality test” online that tell you why you struggle to keep a relationship...
Me: Pfft, no that’s silly!
Him: ...or which Harry Potter character you are
Me: ...
I watch astrology videos all the time. I think they are like Rorschach tests and can get you thinking creatively about the things going on in your life.
Irony. Midway into this video, a commercial came on advertising “psychic advisors” 😂
Barnum statements also make great tweets. I think I remember reading about twitter bots that do that to grow fake accounts.
This channel needs more attention. Good quality video
I gotta give grieving people a pass. Most people would do anything to speak with a deceased loved one. I don't think they are stupid or anything for seeing a medium or psychic. I think they're at a point where they will try anything on the off chance that it MIGHT be real. I have more of an issue with people who take advantage of these types of people. Taking money from grieving, susceptible people makes them the scum of the earth.
People who believe in astrology and essential oils though, they're just idiots.
I believe many essential oils smell good. 😄
But the oils smell good. Use them for keeping rooms fresh
I'm part of your subscribed statistic!!
I have very smart friends I want to show this to... The popularity of astrology nowadays is really annoying... And they get really offended if you call them out on the pseudoscience. I've known about Barnum statements for a while now, didn't know they had a name and this whole thing behind them. But it's a really good thing to watch out for.
Astrology is still a fact anyways and we know it bc we feel the energies , ever since i got into astrology i guesed like 4 ppl zodic signs , and if astrology is not real so are u also gonna say to me that around a certain time of the year , like for example dont you think the middle of sumer has diferent energies than middle of fall or spring . And if astrology is not real than what is the meaning of the moon , saturn all this planets. Bc the sun is how we see ourselves , actions and our awarenness , the moon is our emotions , mars is agression and passion etc.
They shouldn't be offended. Pseudoscience means ideas that academia can't explore due lack of initiative and resources.
They shouldn't be offended. Pseudoscience means ideas that academia can't explore due lack of initiative and resources.
They shouldn't be offended. Pseudoscience means ideas that academia can't explore due lack of initiative and resources.
This video is so important right. Critical thinking and unbiased research seems to undervalued more than ever before.
I hope that everyone becomes aware of this, to protect themselves from a predatory industry!
❤
This channel deserves more viewers and subscribers. Thanks for the good content!
Haha great video! Had fun doing the personality test on our trip to La Jolla
Devin Barzallo ahhh, I could’ve sworn this was Lo Jolla!
This is brilliant. This even got me to reflect on myself 😂
You know what's funny? The next video in my feed is an ad for as astrologer. "The best Indian astroliger in UK", no less! 😂
I tried to make this exact point in my psych class the other day (with a very pro-personality-test teacher) - I might share this video with the class, loved the video! I'll make my tin foil hat immediately ;) (also, I'm one of those few watching subscribers, appreciate this channel, keep up the great work!)
Just discovered your channel, and man I love it. Cats and psychology? What more could I ask for?
I spent 10 mins looking for this video. Holy crap, it didn't come up in my search results or yt searches. I then tried all my yt subscriptions to see who could have posted the video. I'm subbed to 600+ channels. Took a while but I'm glad I found it, I really like this video. I wanted to share it with a friend.
I was thinking, what would have happened if I had not gone looking for this video (going thru 50+ science channels is not easy), I have been subbed to this channel for quite a while and have already binged quite a few videos, so I (as is my habit) will not go through the back catalogue once again to binge vids, cuz in my mind I've already done so. So the chances of me finding this video would be close to zero
I just realized, this would have been like an experience for me, one that shaped me, but something I cannot go back to... I'm so glad I was able to find this video. I have now made a new playlist in which I'll keep videos that I'm too scared to lose to time.
I literally got an ad for Psychics before this.
Of more immediate concern to people who might be looking for a new partner in life, there are some unscrupulous people who use these "Barnum statements" (or 'come-ons' as my Mother would say) to convince others that they are the one person who really gets them.
I explained this to one friend who asked me how they kept ending up with such losers, they took it to heart and are now happily married. It's simple, when someone says something that really seems to connect with you, how vague are they being? If they start vague, and seem to get more in tune with you as the evening progresses, they might be the one, or they might be really good at 'come-ons'.
Yicks, now I'll be overthinking all my interactions wondering if I or whoever I'm interacting with is doing that. Overall I feel like I get my gf better than I get the average person (and the same applies for her getting me) but now I'm worried that there's an unintentional Barnum component to what we think we know about each other? Ugh, guess I'm already overthinking shit. fml.
@@beskamir5977 I think that when it is problematic is when someone is disingenuous to manipulate another person's emotions. If you are not doing that, then you are probably okay. The old adage, "all's fair in love and war," is not true in love nor war.
My subscription feed brought me here!
You must have had a great time doing this to these people 😭 I wound not have been able to keep it together
Lol I thought I was one of the 90% non-subscribed but apparently I was before soooooo I'm the best. Thank you very much.
Nah honestly great video. I wish you'd show up more in my subscription feed
Just discovered your channel. Pretty awesome looking forward to checking out more.
Wonderful video! Thank you!
this channel is so good & professional :) i hope you reach a wider audience.
This is brilliant, I hope Clifford puts this up for class.
I subscribed immediately after watching only one video😁 the test if your cats love you. It was better then anticipated. Psychology or anything brain-related? Hell yeah give it to me.
4:19 I double checked to see if I was subscribed, and I was PHEW XD
This is great... I can tell I'll be making good use of sharing it in future 😁
Re the reason for uprise in silly beliefs, i personally don't think the financial crisis would have affected people of those ages enough to impact their future interests/beliefs. For me, it's 90% down to social media. Whilst previously the most exposure many got to horoscopes was a small, forgettable column in the back of a newspaper or magazine, it's now easy for social feeds to be flooded with the subject, just as a result of liking one post or watching a video. And then they see all the positive comments, it's easy to see how someone can be enticed by it.
This is so good! Can we have more cat training videos :? Pretty please
Subscribed after your first video I found with Bill and Loki 😊
One of the few subscribers :-)
Loved the sporting spirit of the participants
I really like your channel, man! Especially the cat videos. Subbed!
Any RUclipsr is performing above average if even 0.5% of their viewers are subscribed to the channel. You are actually way above average at 1.8%. Either way, I just subbed you.
Of all the 'personality tests' out there, advocates of Myers-Briggs make me cringe so much, it's the modern-day version of astrology.
Great video and explanation! You put a lot of effort into this and it's really convincing. Btw our first names are pronounced the same way, never heard your's before. (Mine is German.)
Highly underrated video. Subscribed for the knowledge, fun personality, and good science! (hate annoying youtubers who ask you to subscribe before you ever see any of their content.) But man, don't be afraid to ask for subscribers in the middle of the video and say it really helps you makes more and better content! Subscribed after watching 5 videos of yours.
1 min it in i already love it, great work
I would like to add a perspective here. First, it's valuable and important to be aware of these psychological phenomenon, and more importantly, to realize that we are all susceptible to them, and the only real way to protect yourself from that susceptibility is to be actively entertaining the knowledge that you are susceptible to a particular psychological influence in a particular situation.
However, I would also like to correct an implicit assumption, here. When you post a video like this, you are suggesting that people have been mislead by the Barnum effect, into thinking that something which is true when it is not. That is incorrect, of course, but some of your viewers might fail to recognize the implicit assumption being made here. This video makes a very clear, persuasive argument - don't believe everything you're told, because you're not foolish like those people who believe in "pseudoscience".
So let me add a perspective to that assumption, if no one minds hearing my view on this.
Generalizations are useful, and often true. They teach us about ourselves. Psychologically, being presented with generalizations in a particular order, or a particular context, can be a powerful mechanism for realizing information you already knew to begin with. I had this discussion with a friend who enjoys tarot card readings, and we discussed readers that you tubers had participated in, and whether those videos were a set up, because they seemed to "accurate" to be reflective of reality. What we decided is that the beauty of tarot readings is that, much like a therapist, they urge a line of thinking that you would likely not have engaged in without the context of a particular social interaction, and in engaging in this thought process, you discover realizations, and you prime yourself to be more self-aware of your environment, the changes within it, and your reaction to those things.
So the suggested here that the Barnum effect is a "bad thing" is one that I disagree with. As is often the case with science, what should be said of this effect is that it IS a thing. The feelings about that thing are, frankly, not only irrelevant to topic, but also, unhelpful to humans. This line of thinking is what causes scientific arrogance, and scientific arrogance, I feel, can instigate the development of bias.
I would like to touch on things like the zodiac, and personality tests. This, again, is not a thing which is necessary to scoff at. The reason these things become an issue of judgement is that they tend towards developing an extremist audience, which causes unwary people who would have normally sufficed to stay critically-minded, to become biased in the opposite direction. You tend to see this a lot in political debates, as well. The sun signs of the zodiac are not necessarily "nonsense". (Virgo, gemini - things like that). What they are, more or less, is a collection of observations formed into a soft theory a long time ago. They may be useful to you, or they may not be useful to you, much in the way that overly generalized "words of wisdom" from Confucius may or may not be useful to you.
This is the nature of generalizations, or things which seek to generalize. The objective in arts like tarot cards and zodiacs is to be more right than wrong. The performance of personality-seeking, and fate-seeking activities is primarily geared around challenging the individual to engage in reflection regarding themselves and their lives, in a way that would be difficult to achieve independently. I think these things are useful. In particular, I think that any scientist who cannot appreciate the value in these things is either lacking in one or more of the following: knowledge, wisdom, objectiveness, and/or independence of mind.
It's easy to get a laugh out of scoffing at something you think is intellectually beneath you, due to your superior education and your awareness of a thing like the barren effect. By contrast, it is significantly more difficult, socially speaking, to call yourself a scientifically-minded individual who is also capable of understanding the utility of things that were not scientifically founded, have not been proven, or are otherwise inconsistently accurate or of dubious validity.
However, I feel like, if you are a scientifically-minded individual - you need to learn how to take that approach in life. I feel that way because, if you haven't noticed, a lot of our modern science has become disappointing. There are far too many people beholding to scientific theories as if they are unquestionable fact, for instance, or citing one or two scientific studies as if they've proven a stance beyond a shadow of a doubt. All of this kind of behavior, in my mind, stems from the increasing arrogance surrounding the sciences, and true scientists these days seem to be something of a dying breed, because a person who really understands science is probably going to be one of the least definitive people you will ever meet.
I appreciated this experiment on the Barnum effect, and of course, I completely understand that videos like this are funded by sensationalism, and that such a spin is not only necessary for the health of the channel, but also valuable, in that using it helps to educate a larger audience of laymen who will now be better prepared to protect themselves from those would would manipulate them knowingly or unknowingly, using this phenomenon. Hopefully, my comment isn't taken as criticism of this video. Knowing what I know about marketing, and being a person who is passionate about raising the standard of critical thinking in our culture, I have absolutely no issues with this video.
I'm just hoping to add an additional perspective here.
Thanks!
Idk why but the tin foil hat bit rlly got me.
Wow, I have a card table just like that! Ooh, we're connected...
Great work.
I am subscribed to your channel and I think you are awesome!
Also don't forget the effect of people wanting to be nice and not to disagree or to appear disagreeable by needlessly stating that the quality of your assessment of them is inaccurate. People might say "seems pretty accurate" when if they were given the opportunity to assess the accuracy of that assessment anonymously or to tell their friend privately, they may reveal that they didn't really think it was accurate.
I'm not saying this is a reason to believe personality test results of course, but it does cast some doubt on this method's ability to prove the universality of personality assessments. Such assessments may be judged by people not to suit them more often if this bias was removed from the experimental conditions.
I love that you say not to make the tin foil hat, if only because doing so won’t cause harm to anyone. It won’t prevent the Barnum effect but it could become the next big fashion trend or something.
Your physiology has made me to subscribe😂
This is so funny because I actually had the opposite of this experience recently! I took the 16personality test and was... dissatisfied with my results despite having put serious thought into each of my answers. I forgot the exact one that I got, but I was confident that was not my personality and it seemed they felt the same. However, when asking my friends about this they actually got irritated with me and claimed “You must have taken the test wrong!” or “No you’re wrong, you must be that personality.” Weird!
This is present in religion too. Watch out for “prophets”
I think the only time things like these tests don't trick people is when they're already skeptical about everything. But there is a slight trade-off because now it's impossible for me to ignore all those fake stories on instagram without being annoyed by them lol. Like jokes aside it's pretty taxing to always be skeptical and analyzing things and I can't really blame people for just wanting to accept and not spend too much time thinking about them.
Perfect got'em moment in the end lmao 🤣
Totally agree thanks for teaching us the specifics and name of this kind of manipulation. I'm naturally a questioner (according to Gretchen Reuben) so I was always sceptical. I used to call them "Kung Fu Master Statements" intended to make you fill in the gaps & find your destiny lol.
Wow everything he's saying really rings true for me wait what he's doing it now!
Interesting, and made more so by RUclips putting ab ad for psychics in the middle!
Omg for real?
Neuro Transmissions - yup, for real. But only the best and smartest people can see it! ;-)
Please make a psychology biases video
Cool video. Thx
Good video
You're awesome
At 0:14 I was like THEY'RE ALL THE SAME
• 0:06 - "Free personality test" - Do I have to hold cans and buy crappy books? ¬_¬ (I'm surprised you got any bites; I guess not everybody is aware of Scientology traps. 😒)
• 5:44 - I noticed this a long time ago; horoscopes often seem fitting, but unlike most people, I also read the other 11 horoscopes to see how they also seem to apply. :-|
Thank you
Equally as valid as "real personality tests". Personality psychology needs to go the way of the dodo, it's causing people to not seek proper treatment or qualified feedback.
Hey you should do some experiments with cognitive bias
I like that idea!
That's not why it's called Barnum effect. He didn't create Barnum Statements. Its based on a quote he said along the lines of " we have something for everyone [in his circus]". That's why its callef Barnum statements/effect. He himself didn't make barnum statements on people
Except he did. Barnum used to do pseudo personality tests during his show that used these broad, vague statements. This is where the term came from.
I am susceptible to these jedi mind tricks - I think it’s mostly my own brain tricking itself.
I am very curious and openminded. This is a blessing and a curse since I sometimes cannot get myself to confidently land on a descision (THERE IS THIS AND THAT AND SO MANY FACTORS TO CONSIDER)
Anyway - I’ve long looked at myself as a logical being - a man of science - but I have this thought that not everything can be explained by science (yet)
This is where astrology came into play for me - I have never been a nut about it- but I have always found it really interesting and fell into the trap - came out of it cursing at how dumb it is - fell back into it ect.
I think my brain is trying to be open minded and consider the posibility the universe is not what we think/see with our current understanding and that the universe is moving like some sort of clock. (We would say it’s hot during the summer or at 2 AM it’s dark outside) and then maybe - “born in august 24th 2.30 - You have X, Y and Z traits»
I’m «afraid» to rule it out and giving it a look every couple of months doesnt kill me - but I’ve never made any decisions based on it. In the high likelyhood it’s just 100% BS with no merit it’s still pretty harmless
What up my 9% people
any way to take a look at the results that everyone is getting? this is very interesting!
I am the best. A real free electron into an ocean of same anonymous people.
Ok, maybe I overreact here.
So when you find out someone reads "48 laws powers" should you be weary of them?
I'm suprised about the fact that when people actually test this, they don't consider the ENTIRE concept of astrology.
it's not just determining your SUN sign
but ur entire CHART, u have to understand that.
Yeah, but often times when ppl give out horoscopes they tell you to check your sun, moon, venus, mars and rising sign too lmao
young man your style is amazing prolific production of content in this style will create a massive following, how to have people take action! 1. it saves them time, because they don't have to search for it, because they know they want it and more. 2. their kids brains grow from the efficiency the topics and your style of delivery. 3. and lets utilize the law of vibration to our favor, start sharing how amazing it is that you and you team has jumped to a 97% subscribe rating and FYI A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH ON network marketing, aka MLM are not only amazing training in becoming an entrepreneur and in post covid world its required, did you know that when a person joins one of those businesses, that they now have access to 360 plus taxes write offs. there are two types of taxes. most think they are one tax for he poor and one for he wealthy, not so!!!! there is one for a business owner and one for employees. an employee has 4 write off when speaking taxes. any way reread his again until it sinks in.... just like we watch your videos over and over, to learn the power information you are sharing
I fucking love this
My problem with most debunking videos that I find is that they are made from people who don't have a true understanding of natal charts. I am a follower of science and I don't think that spreading this type of information is helpful unless you know both sides. I appreciate the attempt but this is not effectively explained how my or other people's chart are so accurate
The video _does_ explain why they're so "accurate" though. It's because it's general enough that you can fill in the blanks to make it seem so accurate to your life. That doesn't mean natal charts are bad or anything. You may find deep meaning in them and they can be a useful tool for exploring yourself, but at the end of the day they are simply broad generalizations that you ascribe more meaning to, not predictive text. I hope that makes sense.
Go to a professional astrologer and give her a different date of birth. You’ll still relate to your reading.
to be a bit fair, if i was in that situation i’d give it more than 6 at accuracy just to be polite lol
7:17 ... with NordVPN!
Now think on what happens if someone learns a loooot of those commonalities between people, and maybe not only the superficial ones, but you actually learn to look indept in a culture, lets say you live ina a small country, you get SO GOOD that you can actually predict full conversations with names of celebrities, show names, movies, and even family members names and PERSONAL stories about them...So is the Barnum effect BAD or INNEFECTIVE or a lie? I think its a tool and a VERY effective one
The only personality test that’s accurate is hisokas nen affinity personality test from hunterxhunter.
You admit that all the statements are generic and really can apply to anyone and then imply people are gullible when they say these statements, that apply to everyone, apply to them. This would be a more effective study if they statements weren't so general.
The point is that these general statements seem individualized and personal based on responses, which they are not. The point is that they are generic, but are viewed as insightful or holding some deeper truth about the person. It’s posing as something it is not.
@neurotransmissions yeah, I get that. I'm saying that just because something is a generalized statement doesn't mean it can't hold special meaning for individuals as well and be generally true. I think Barnum's assertions seem arrogant, pessimistic, and deceptive.
I think to actually prove his point, he would need to show that people accept things that weren't true about them. Not just assign increased value to a true statement. Does that make sense?
My horoscope is nothing like me
my horoscope is almost the exact opposite of me, except i do joke about my “ego” sometimes 💀
i’m a leo
This video is good and astrology is still my truth
Also it makes a lot of sense bc most people don’t truly know or understand themselves they just claim they do. Of course their gonna comply with whatever you tell them.
the guy in the green shirt remindes me of a yutubeber
mbti
so how about MBTI?
This made me more paranoid than ever great
Yo I go to that beach
1:52 what is it based on;why he didn't answer😂;
So are you saying FFM is bullshit? Maybe you should clarify your position on FFM so people don't get confused. The video comes across as a criticism of FFM as somehow being the same as astrology, even though that isn't stated implicitly.
Definitely not saying FFM is bullshit. Just the fake results that I gave folks. I thought that was clear, but I guess not.
You sound like not just bikes
Im The best lol
Yay it's just warmed my heart too ! :)
İ dont know if anybody argued that but your sample size prety small :)
I guess if you get a more disgreable person and more councienciousness, it's more likely that the perdon would doubt the results.
And why should I believe in what you say? Haha