When a social phenomenon arises, people often use various psychological terms to explain it. This helps to analyze the context of the phenomenon more easily. The range of psychological effects one learns while studying psychology is indeed vast. They broadly analyze most of the events around us so they can be easily understood. From now on, we will look at some of the psychological phenomena that are frequently cited.
Barnum Effect
The ‘Barnum Effect’ refers to the phenomenon where people believe universally applicable personality traits match their own. Examples include the MBTI and blood type personality theories. This effect is also known as the Forer effect, which was named after the American psychologist who conducted related experiments. The Barnum effect might seem like a way to figure out someone. Still, it is full of ambiguity and closely related to the technique of ‘cold reading,’ which entices the listener with statements that could apply to anyone.
Recency Effect
The ‘Recency Effect’ refers to the phenomenon where people better remember the most recently presented information. The opposite effect is the ‘Primacy Effect,’ where people better remember the first presented information. Depending on the familiarity of the content in the message, the primacy effect or the recency effect may appear. The primacy effect is more likely to occur if the content is high in interest, familiar, and controversial. On the other hand, the recency effect appears more with relatively unfamiliar and indifferent content.
Eiffel Tower Effect
The ‘Eiffel Tower Effect’ refers to the phenomenon where initially indifferent attitudes towards something turn into increased fondness as the information is repeatedly exposed. It is also called the ‘mere exposure effect.’ The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, was a building that many artists and citizens despised when it was first built. They considered the tall and heavy steel structure to be vulgar. However, over time, it has become a significant tourist spot in France and a source of pride for the French.
Zeigarnik Effect
The ‘Zeigarnik Effect’ refers to the phenomenon where unfinished tasks are not easily forgotten. If a task is not completed and discomfort continues, the afterimage lingers. The saying that one can never fail one’s first love is a typical example of the Zeigarnik effect. People who have experienced a terrible disaster or psychological trauma suffer a great shock, and repeat re-experiences, which can be considered a type of Zeigarnik effect, known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Crespi Effect
The ‘Crespi Effect’ refers to the phenomenon where the efficiency of task performance can continue to increase as the intensity of rewards or penalties increases. We often use ‘carrot and stick’ to mean that rewards and penalties should be given appropriately. In 1942, American psychologist Crespi proved through experiments that the carrot and stick that increase task performance efficiency need to grow in intensity. Based on this, the concept of the Crespi effect was born.
Stigma Effect
The ‘Stigma Effect’ refers to the phenomenon where the target tends to behave worse once a negative perception is formed, and the negative perception continues. Stigma means ‘branding.’ Therefore, the stigma effect is also called the ‘branding effect.’ If a person who has committed a crime once is branded as a criminal, they are likely to identify as a criminal and has a high possibility of reoffending. This is the theory.
Snob Effect
The ‘Snob Effect’ refers to when people’s consumption of a specific product increases, the demand for that product ultimately decreases. A snob is a person who pretends to be superior. The snob effect is a concept that contrasts with the ‘bandwagon effect,’ which refers to following others in consumption. It occurs when those seeking differentiation shun popular products and switch to new ones. The preference for luxury goods that the general public cannot easily afford can be seen as a phenomenon caused by the snob effect.
Stroop Effect
The ‘Stroop Effect’ refers to the phenomenon where the response speed to name the color of a word slows down when the meaning of the word and the color of the letters do not match. It is the phenomenon where identifying the color of the word ‘black’ written in red slows down. The Stroop effect occurs because people tend to automatically process the meaning of words unconsciously. When you see the word ‘black’ written in red, it is a phenomenon that appears when you exclude the unconscious and pay selective attention.
Nocebo Effect
Primacy Effect
As mentioned earlier, the ‘Primacy Effect’ is a common effect. It is a phenomenon where the information presented first has a stronger influence than learned later. It’s also known as the ‘first impression effect,’ highlighting the importance of initial interactions in shaping our judgments. Typically, we form our initial impressions of someone within just three seconds. During this brief period, we subconsciously categorize them in some way, regardless of their true nature. Unless there’s a compelling reason to reassess, this initial impression tends to endure, earning it the nickname of the ‘concrete law.’
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