A personality description vague enough to fit anyone will still feel written just for you

In 1948, Bertram Forer gave students a 'personalized' personality assessment that was actually identical for everyone, built from vague horoscope-like statements. Students rated it highly accurate for them personally, averaging 4.3 out of 5. The effect, named after showman P.T. Barnum, is part of why horoscopes and generic personality quizzes feel so convincingly specific.

— Bertram R. Forer, The Fallacy of Personal Validation: A Classroom Demonstration of Gullibility — Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1949

One credited idea per card. No filler. Swipe the rest in Savvy.

Keep swiping — it's free Works right in your browser. No app store needed.

More Psychology

All Psychology cards →
More from Bertram R. Forer →

Five ideas worth knowing, every week

The week's best cards and a puzzle, credited as always. Free, unsubscribe any time.