The Barnum Effect

The Barnum Effect is a psychological phenomenon where people believe vague, general statements about themselves are highly accurate and personalized. This occurs because these statements are broad enough to apply to many individuals, yet feel specific enough to seem personal. For example, reading horoscopes or personality tests that make generalized claims can lead someone to think they truly understand them, even though the descriptions could apply to many people. It highlights how people tend to interpret vague information as uniquely meaningful when, in reality, it is intentionally or unintentionally designed to be universally applicable.