You Are Slow to Warm Up to Others, But Warm Once They Have Gained Your Trust...
January 14, 2011 10:46 AM   Subscribe

Maddeningly frustrating Psych 101-filter: there's a semi-famous paragraph, written by a psychologist or sociologist. It describes an individuals personality/character traits. Most people who read it feel that it describes them accurately. What is it?!

I've seen it mentioned in numerous places - it's a common pop psych trope. Endless Googling has NOT produced it, though ("psychology" + "paragraph" + "personality traits" = ten bazillion hits).
posted by julthumbscrew to Human Relations (4 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
I believe you're talking about something like this?
posted by ixohoxi at 10:48 AM on January 14, 2011


Best answer: Barnum effect
posted by estlin at 10:48 AM on January 14, 2011


Response by poster: FORER EFFECT! BLESS YOU! That may have been the fastest resolution EVER.
posted by julthumbscrew at 10:50 AM on January 14, 2011


See also Cold Reading. So- called psychics do this constantly.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 2:20 PM on January 14, 2011


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