Why even smart people believe in zodiac signs and guessing on the Tarot

Almost any company, especially in the women'sA Review of the Barnum EffectYou can discuss what sociable Libra and Virgo - pedantic, and do not get serious criticism. Many educated people pounce on you for the mention homeopathy, but call your zodiac sign without hesitation.

Why is this classification is so easy to take, despite the lack of scientific evidence? Say thank Barnum effect (Forer). Below we look at how it helps us to believe in any unproven classification, fortune-telling and divination.

What is the Barnum effect

The effect foundTHE 'BARNUM EFFECT' IN PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE back in 1949, in the course of psychological experiment. Bertram Forer has distributed questionnaires to students and said that the results experienced psychologist create a portrait of their personality.

The next day, all participants were given the same description of the astrological books purchased at the newsstand, and gave his psychologist conclusion. Students were asked to evaluate how it fits in with their personality on a scale. The average score was 4.6. That is, almost all felt that the description corresponds exactly to them.

Do they all have the same? Of course not, just the description used is very vague and general statements which are suitable for most people. For example, here are:

• You really need to other people you loved and accepted. All are in need.
• You are prone to self-criticism. All periodically criticize themselves.
• You think you are independent and do not agree with other people without satisfactory proof. Nobody wants to admit that it is easily conducted to the opinions of others, even if this is the case.

Coloring descriptions plays an important role: they must not only vague, but also flattering. People are happy to take credit for the good quality, even if in fact they do not really fit their personality.

Moreover, people do not notice that the description of the general, even if they are told about it. In one experiment,THE 'BARNUM EFFECT' IN PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE participants asked directly how they feel describe the more appropriate it is to them or the general population. And the majority chose the first option.

As Barnum effect makes us believe in the signs of the zodiac

description signs of the zodiac Great for creating Barnum effect. Firstly, they are vague and general. Secondly, almost entirely positive. For example, the description of one of the signs horo.mail:

You are absolutely sure that came into being in order to make a better world, in which you will almost not wrong... but you become quite ruthless when someone is trying to hurt your loved ones.

Everyone wants to make the world better, and do not suffer when the hurt ones. Another example from the same site:

You take into account many factors - including those who do not see the representatives of the other characters, and it is therefore often spend time thinking. In addition, you differ good manners, friendliness, and optimism.

Vision, good manners, friendliness and optimism. Such qualities will gladly recognize in them every man. And further:

You - a complex, multifaceted and very attractive man. You are able to charm anyone, but never doing it for selfish purposes.

It's just honey. There is hardly a person who will read this and say, "Well, no, it's not about me. I am simple, like a log, repulsive and always use people. "

Vague generalities and something good - these are the two components of success that make us believe in the pseudo-classification, and more - in all kinds of predictions.

Why do we believe in psychics and coffee grounds

Evaluating the prediction, we use the same method as when reading their characteristics - subjective or personal validation ofThe fallacy of personal validation; a classroom demonstration of gullibility.. If you believe that the written or narrated applies to you, then instantly find matching. Psychics do not even have a particularly tense: the client can "guess" what they mean, and announces this.

Here is an example of life. A friend of mine convinced that she has got a real psychic, because before looking to the future, he correctly described her past and I called some of the facts from the biography. In particular, he told about the illness of her mother, whom he could not identify. When my friend told me about it, at first it looked as if the medium is called a specific disease. Later it turned out that he just mentioned the "problem of the female," and they are found in many women between the ages.

According to this principle we can say anything and get to the point.

For example, if the forecaster says "strong father figure", one can equally well think about his father when he there, and another man, who has an influence on his life: a relative, boss, friend, friendly neighbor, but who anything!

This works not only with mediums, but also with independent fortune-telling on the entire row. None of the Tarot card, rune and especially the coffee grounds will not tell you about "increase to the general manager, "but about" an unexpected pleasant surprise "- yes. Thus surprise can be promoted and the space in the clogged bus, and the second randomly precipitated Snickers in the machine with the food. You yourself will find it and link with divination. But that did not coincide, just forgotten.

Why do we forget that not coincided

If people remember everything that was in the prediction, and each time carried out a statistical analysis of their belief in the supernatural would pougasla. But the opposite is true: if something is sold, it strengthens faith - if not forgotten.

And it helps in selective or selective memory. Scientists conducted an experimentNew research shows that we control our forgetfulness: Some people were asked to remember something, the other - forget. It would seem that we have no control over their memory, but the EEG data proved the opposite - memories really can fade by the will of man. A few hours after the event they begin to be suppressed, and the farther, the more blurred.

Scientists have noted that the forgetting mechanism resembles containment motor pulse. You can time otdornut hand and catch a falling cactus - and exactly the same can forget something, if necessary.

Thus, after reading a horoscope or a fortune-telling you just forget everything that does not come, and after some time did not remember it at gunpoint.

The question remains: why do we want to forget the wrong and believe in the fact that all read or tell - the truth?

I think the answer lies in an attempt to gain a little more control over their lives. Zodiac signs help to know what to expect from strangers, guessing - what to expect from the future. No one will guess at what will he now drink coffee or call a friend. This we control. But to have an interview, find a husband, to know the relation of man without asking him about it - is another matter.

Fortune-telling, horoscopes, signs, moon phases, amulets - all this creates illusion of control over their lives, because someone warned, he is armed. That's just it's just an illusion, and it does not give anything but temporary relief and unjustified hopes.