Have you ever read your horoscope or checked your zodiac sign and thought to yourself, wow, this is sooo me! At that point, you’re not thinking about the millions of other readers thinking exactly the same thing as you. Well, there’s an interesting concept in psychology called the Barnum effect. And in many ways, it explains this sort of thinking and belief pattern. But what is the Barnum effect, and what does it have to do with our zodiac signs or other paranormal beliefs, especially in the dating and matchmaking scenes?
What is the Barnum Effect?
If I am to be uncharitable, I’ll borrow one definition of this concept, which is that the Barnum Effect is simply the psychology of self-deception. But we won’t do that. Instead, we’ll say, the Barnum Effect, named after a famous showman P.T. Barnum, is the tendency for people to accept vague, general statements as uniquely applicable to them. This psychological phenomenon occurs when people believe that general descriptions are accurately tailored to them personally, even though these descriptions could apply to a wide range of people.
Let’s examine these statements: “There’s an important older woman in your life” or “Sometimes, you doubt yourself, especially when put under pressure”. Both statements are broad enough to apply to just about anybody. Of course there’s an important older woman in just about everybody’s life! However, when presented in a personalized manner, such as the horoscope, a prediction by a pastor, or a vision by a chief priest, we tend to believe these statements are about us!
The Barnum Effect and Zodiac Signs
Zodiac signs are the most popular example of the Barnum Effect in action. Tarot cards and other forms of divination are also good examples of where the Barnum effect is most evident. Typically, astrological descriptions include vague, all-encompassing attributes that can be applied to nearly everyone. Let’s look at a few examples:
Aries: You are adventurous and energetic, but you are also impatient and impulsive sometimes.
Taurus: You are reliable and practical, but you can be set in your ways sometimes, even possessive.
Gemini: You are adaptable and versatile, yet you can be inconsistent and indecisive under pressure.
These descriptions are compelling because they include both positive traits and minor drawbacks, resulting in a well-rounded and seemingly accurate representation. Many people can relate to these qualities to some degree, leading them to believe that their zodiac sign genuinely represents their personality. But in truth, you could simply swap the Aries description for the Taurus one, and be none-the-wiser.
How the Barnum Effect Influences Dating
- Compatibility Beliefs: Many dating sites/apps feature zodiac signs for subscribers to fill, enabling users to seek supposedly compatible matches based on astrological beliefs. Interestingly, the Barnum Effect suggests that individuals are more inclined to believe that certain zodiac signs are inherently more compatible with their own, thus influencing their choices and preferences.
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecies: Believing in zodiac compatibility can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies. If you believe, you are more inclined to overlook minor issues and invest more in the relationship, thus increasing the chances of success. On the flip side, however, you may be ignoring obvious red flags for the sake of zodiac compatibility. This is a decision that may come back to haunt you later in the relationship. Of course, hindsight will be 20/20 at this point, but it’ll be too late to undo the mistake.
- Conversation Starters: In its most useful guise though, zodiac signs can be excellent conversation starters during dates, encouraging people to share more about themselves, and possibly set the tone for more meaningful connections.
Rationalize the Barnum Effect
While astrology can be fun, especially as suggested above, it is important that people are mindful of the Barnum Effect and its impact. And its impact can be immense – many many people go into wrong relationships on the basis of zodiac compatibility, or a preacher man’s vision and the like. Here’s what to do:
Keep an Open Mind: While it’s ok to consider zodiac compatibility, don’t make it remotely significant in your dating decisions. And no, don’t go looking for seers and pastors and soothsayers, claiming some form of supernatural power or the other (apologies to Abidoshaker). In most, if not all instances, you’ll be dealing with con artists or deluded self-styled diviners. Instead, try to know people for who they are. What they stand for. Their values, their goals, and their ambitions. Do they or can they align with yours?
Look for Specifics: When reading horoscopes or zodiac descriptions, try a simple trick. Read another description from another zodiac sign, and see if it fits your personality. The more generic the statements or descriptions, the more likely it is that you’re reading make-believe. Try to differentiate truly unique traits from those that could apply to anyone.
Focus on Personal Connection: Real compatibility comes from shared values, interests, and emotional and even physical connections. Use astrology as no more than a conversation starter. Instead, prioritize building a relationship based on real-life interactions, mutual understanding, and respect.
Conclusion
So here’s the final truth about astrology and the zodiac: it is deemed pseudoscience by the scientific community because of its lack of empirical evidence. There isn’t a single shred of evidence from any controlled experiment, that shows that astrology actually works. It is the equivalent of the famous snake oil phenomenon.
And if we still haven’t figured it out yet, the Barnum effect is very evident in many modern churches and their fake pastors. The effect is even more evident with the many African jazz-men. These are people who claim they can predict your relationship, your destiny, and even confirm who in the village is responsible for all your woes.
We all need to be careful out there.