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Schizotypy, self-referential thinking and the Barnum effect.
- Source :
-
Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry [J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry] 2011 Jun; Vol. 42 (2), pp. 145-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Nov 18. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background and Objectives: The tendency for people to endorse, as an accurate description of themselves, personality descriptions that are essentially bogus is well-attested. The study tested whether the so-called 'Barnum' effect could be predicted by individual differences in self-referential thinking, and beyond this, schizotypy more generally.<br />Methods: 130 Participants completed four different measures of the Barnum effect followed by measures of schizotypy and self-referential thinking.<br />Results: Both self-referential thinking and positive schizotypy independently predicted the degree of agreement with several Barnum measures including both favorable and unfavorable personality descriptions, as well as computer-generated and horoscope-based readings.<br />Limitations: The sample is heavily represented by students and is not representative of the general population. Testing at a single point in time may have reduced differences between different indices of the Barnum effect.<br />Conclusions: Self-referential thinking and schizotypy more generally are key contributors to the Barnum effect across a wide range of indices.<br /> (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-7943
- Volume :
- 42
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21315874
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2010.11.003