The Barnum effect

What is the Barnum Effect ?

Imagine someone tells you that “you’re a very special person” or “you have a unique personality.” You might think, “Wow, that’s true! I am special!” But the thing is, those statements are so general and vague that they could apply to almost anyone.

This is called the Barnum effect. It’s when people take general statements as being specifically about them, even if they’re not really true or specific.

How AI advice can trigger the Barnum Effect

As more and more AI apps enter the realm of personalised guidance, we’re becoming more susceptible to the Barnum effect.

We accept generalised advice that applies to almost everyone else as personal observations. For example, you wrote an entry in one of those AI-powered journal apps, that you’ve been feeling demotivated at work lately.

Trying to come up with personalised advice the journal app writes: “Your feelings of lost motivation may stem from a deep-seated need to make a significant impact in your field.”

This is the Barnum effect in full swing. While the statement is valid and relatable, the loss of motivation you feel right now might be different. You might just be burned out after an exhausting project, or the work itself doesn’t excite you. Not understanding the root cause of our feelings and directing our energy into solving a vague problem will only cause further dissatisfaction.