Why is fortune telling so accurate?

Have you ever thought, "Why is fortune telling so accurate?" In fact, this is a psychological phenomenon-Barnum effect. The so-called "Barnum effect" means that people often think that a general and general description of personality reveals their own characteristics very accurately. This effect is named after a popular and famous magician Shoman barnum, who once commented on his performance: His program is popular because it contains ingredients that everyone likes, so people are cheated every minute. A psychologist has done this experiment. After he completed the Minneapolis Multiphasic Personality Questionnaire (MMPI) for a group of people, he presented two results for participants to judge which one was his own. In fact, one is the result of the participants themselves and the other is the average result of most people's answers. Participants actually thought that the latter expressed their personality characteristics more accurately. This study tells us that it is easy to convince everyone that a general personality description is particularly suitable for him. Even though this description is empty, he still thinks it reflects his personality. There was once a psychologist who used a common sentence that was suitable for almost anyone to let college students judge whether it was suitable for them. Results Most college students think that this sentence describes themselves in detail and accurately. The following paragraph is the material of psychologists. Do you think it suits you too? You really need others to like and respect you. You tend to criticize yourself. You have many abilities that can be your strengths, but you also have some shortcomings, but you can usually overcome them. You have some difficulties in communicating with the opposite sex. Although you look calm on the outside, you are really anxious on the inside. You sometimes doubt whether the decision you made or the thing you did was correct. You like some changes in your life and hate being limited. You are proud of being able to think independently, and you won't accept other people's suggestions without sufficient evidence. You think it unwise to expose yourself too much in front of others. Sometimes you are outgoing, kind and sociable, and sometimes you are introverted, cautious and silent. Some of your ambitions are often unrealistic. This is actually a hat suitable for anyone's head. In life, the typical embodiment of this effect is in the process of fortune telling. Many people think the fortune teller is "accurate" after consulting him. In fact, those who turn to fortune tellers are easily influenced. When people are depressed, they lose control of their lives, so their sense of security is also affected. An insecure person's psychological dependence is also greatly enhanced, and the suggestibility is stronger than usual. In addition, fortune tellers are good at trying to figure out people's inner feelings and can understand the feelings of help seekers a little, and help seekers will immediately feel a kind of spiritual comfort. The fortune teller's next general and harmless words can convince the helper. There are several ways to avoid Barnum effect and know yourself objectively and truly: First, learn to face yourself. There is such a question to test people's emotional intelligence: when a woman who fell into a coma was rescued and woke up to find herself naked, what would be her first reaction to cover it up? The answer is to scream and then cover your eyes with your hands. Psychologically speaking, this is a typical example of not wanting to face yourself. Because you have a "defect" or think it is a defect, you cover it up in your own way, but this cover-up is actually like the woman who fell into the water above, covering her eyes. Therefore, to know yourself, we must first face ourselves. Second, cultivate a kind of ability to collect information and keen judgment. Few people are born with wise and prudent judgment. In fact, judgment is the ability to make decisions on the basis of collecting information. The supporting role of information in judgment can not be ignored. Without a lot of information collection, it is difficult to make wise decisions. There is a story. A child mowing people's grass called a Mrs. Chen and said, "Do you need mowing?" Mrs. Chen replied, "No, I already have a lawn mower." The child added, "I will help you pull out the weeds in the flowers." Mrs. Chen replied, "I have done my lawn mower, too." The child added, "I'll help you cut the grass flush with the corridor." Mrs. Chen said, "The person I invited has already done it. Thank you. I don't need a new lawn mower. " The child hung up the phone. The child's brother asked him aside, "Aren't you mowing grass at Mrs. Chen's?" Why are you calling this number? The child smiled proudly and said, "I just want to know how well I did!" " "This child can be said to be very good at collecting his own information, so he can foresee his future growth and possible achievements, which is by no means comparable to ordinary children. Third, take people as a mirror and know yourself by comparing with people around you. Comparatively speaking, the choice of objects is very important. It will be biased to compare people who are not as good as themselves, or to compare their own shortcomings with the advantages of others. Therefore, according to your own actual situation, compare people with similar conditions and find out your proper position in the group, so as to know yourself more objectively. Fourth, know yourself through major events, especially major successes and failures. The experience and lessons gained from major events can provide information about a person's character and ability, from which we can find our own strengths and weaknesses. The more you are at the peak of success and the trough of failure, the more you can reflect a person's true character. Some people say "know yourself when you succeed, and know your friends when you fail", but in the final analysis, we all know ourselves. Regardless of success or failure, we must adhere to the dialectical point of view, not ignore the strengths and advantages, but also recognize the shortcomings and deficiencies.