Saturday 23 March 2013

Lace & Hearts / Mind Reading & Barnum

As promised yesterday, here is my new Choies wig and Yes Walker flats together in an outfit! It is super dooper hot weather today (Australia doesn't seem to understand that it is autumn yet), but I really wanted to wear these tights, so I paired it all with this simple, summery lace dress from Koogal.

dress - c/o Koogal
tights - c/o My Tights
shoes - c/o Yes Walker
necklace - c/o Oasap
wig - c/o Choies

Okay, guys. For something different today, I'm going to tell you, yes you, reading right now, some things about yourself. Before you read below, just read this list of qualities, and take tick each one off if it applies to you. And then ask yourself - does Annika know me? Has she read my mind?? (Didn't you guys know that I can read minds now?)

So, here goes -
Most of the time you are positive and cheerful, but there is a time in the past where you were very upset.
At times you feel very sure of yourself, whereas other times you are not as confident.
You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself.
At times you have serious doubts whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing, but generally you have had a positive influence on the people in your life.

You have just experienced what is known in psychology as "The Barnum Effect". Popular with astrology sections in magazines and psychics, the Barnum effect shows how easily we can be manipulated into believing that the vaguest statements are actually meaningful insights into our own lives.

Think about the above sentences. Did they apply to you? They probably also applied to most of the people reading this post.
Okay, so it's likely you thought this test in particular was silly, because it's obvious that I, Annika, am not going to know all about you and your personality through some kind of psychic blogger powers.

But this test, when given by some kind of authority figure (or by someone who claims to have 'mysterious powers') works extremely well. In fact, the original "Barnum test" was masked as a "personality test" (just like a self-test you might find in a trashy mag), in which psychology students in the 1940s had to answer some questions on their personality. They were then all given pieces of paper with "feedback", and asked to rate how well it applied to themselves. Most gave it a rating of 4 to 5 out of 5 for accuracy. Only afterwards was it disclosed that all the "feedback" given was entirely identical to everyone elses.
(original image source)
Our brains are interesting things, and it's good to know how your own one can be fooled ;)

I hope you're all super well,







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23 comments:

  1. I have to say I'm a bit of a skeptic for all things like that. I chuckle whenever I see tarou card readers, but am always tempted to just have a go and hear what nonsense they will say. I do love your new wi, it would be just awesome to have hair like that just naturally, right? And such cute tights :D

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  2. You look super cute, lady. :) And good job reading my mind, haha. ;) But seriously, that is really interesting--thanks for sharing that bit of info!

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  3. Haha I love learning about things like the Barnum Effect. I'm super skeptical about everything like that so it would be hard to convince me anybody had magic insight about me, but I enjoy knowing how gullible most people are.
    I really love your outfit here. The heart tights are adorable and look perfect with your white dress!

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  4. The Barnum Effect really annoys me. Mostly because I can recognise when it's being used and, most of the time, it's being used fraudulently. It's like cold reading. My mother in law sees a medium to contact her late husband. Although it gives her comfort, Rich (my partner, her son) gets so angry because it's clear to us what she's doing.The whole "I'm being told about someone whose name begins with J...Does that mean anything to you?" Who DOESN'T know someone whose name starts with J?

    Sorry, I went off on a little rant there!

    Becky
    xx

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    1. Argh. That makes me so mad, when cold reading is used to manipulate and scam desperate people out of their money. It's really sad and quite, quite horrible :(
      Also that is the main reason why I brought up the Barnum effect here, without being so explicit as to talk about psychics and mediums in general. My hope was that people will learn about the Barnum effect, and when they are in a situation in the future where a technique like cold reading is being used they might think more critically about it, and not be sucked in by it.

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  5. you look adorable! Our minds are pretty incredible, but some people just need to be manipulated (or TOLD) how to feel in a certain way. So sad but true. xx
    Alice Barton ♥ TheMowWay

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  6. Oh my goodness that dress is beautiful! So pretty for spring time!

    Jamie-Lee|Glitter Infatuation Beauty Blog! x

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  7. Awesome outfit, and cool tidbit <3

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  8. Wow that was awesome because all those statements applied to me. LOL! And your outfit!!! SOOOO CUTEE!!! Love the withe dress with the heart stockings!!! <3333 You are so beautiful! and the wig looks great! did you end up cutting it at all? :)

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    1. YUP. Not sure how I feel about it now, haha. I'll post about it soon ;)

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  9. Yeah I kind of think most personality tests are rubbish, but they are still fun to read! There is something spooky about reading a description of your "personality type" and having it be so spot on - even if the statements are vague.

    I love this wig! The subtle waves are so pretty.

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  10. GREAT WIG! I LOVE THE LONG HAIR ON YOU!
    THE TIGHTS ARE SO CUTE!
    XOXO

    www.marshylicious.blogspot.com.ar

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  11. oh, those tights! ah, you always have the best tights! and the wig looks wonderful!

    lindsey louise

    hellomrrabbitblog.com

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  12. Super cute outfit, and I love the little part about the Barnum Effect. I like when science and research study is able to prove something like that to be true. Has there been a lot of research about things like that for mediums?

    xox Sammi
    www.thesoubrettebrunette.blogspot.com

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    1. Well, there has been thorough, thorough debunking of supposed "psychic abilities" - despite the claims of people who say they can read minds or see the future or contact the dead, there has never been a successful demonstration of this under properly controlled conditions (where tricks, like the barnum effect for example, can't be used). There has been a lot of research into the particular techniques and tricks that are used by people who claim to have such powers - you can find a list of them here if you're interested!

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  13. Every single of those traits applied to me. ???

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  14. Hey Annika ! Nice outfit :) But you know, since I saw you with your real adorable and coppery hair, I really prefer it and your wigs, so nice is it, seem to me less beautiful ! But I'm sure your hair are gonna be more and more resistant and easy to style ;) and you will love it so much that you won't be able to hide it ahahah !

    I would say you that I buy the clear rainboots :D I'm waiting for them.

    And (last question) I was wondering if you knew the fashion site Urban Outfitters ? Cause I've never seen it in your links. It's a bit pricy but really nice, and sometimes you have really interesting things in sale :) I leave you this adress because I think some clothes are really according to your fashion style ;)
    http://www.urbanoutfitters.fr/

    Continue to do so lovely work !
    xoxo

    Victoria

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    Replies
    1. Hi victoria, yay!! that's awesome that you bought the clear rainboots :) Hahaha thank you so much saying such lovely things about my hair.

      I have never bought anything from Urban Outfitters - I actually find it too pricey for me, and I can also often find the same items from other places for a lot cheaper. Also I've read some reviews of it which aren't great. I agree the stuff is really cute though!
      Oh, and thank you so much for such a lovely comment :) I really appreciate it! xx Annika

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  15. Damn you brain!:)
    Love the outfit and your tights!
    p.s. Weather is crazy here to, it is spring, and I just saw snow outside my window :@

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a message! I read every single one. Don't forget to check back for a reply if you leave a question! ♥

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