We all have our own mountain to climb. What are your three greatest strengths? The Barnum effect and social networks..

I once wrote about why it's easy to identify with inspiring statements, yet very difficult to follow them. The problem with inspirational quotes is that they often reflect universal human experiences and emotions. Inspirational, motivational quotes will touch upon our hidden desires and goals, which can be a powerful motivator. However, despite identifying with these quotes, following them can be challenging for several reasons.

The primary reason is the lack of actionable steps. The comfort zone is the next "good" reason that will stop us. Various life challenges, internal resistance, focus, lack of motivation… are all other potentially possible reasons.

Belief

Whatever we hear, see, read, etc., undergoes a process of "belief." Belief is a cognitive process in which an individual accepts a statement as true or real, based on some evidence, past experience, or cultural/moral norms. It is an internal representation of our understanding of the world and will influence our thoughts, feelings, and likely behavior. Sometimes beliefs can change if new information is presented to us or we experience a new personal experience. Because, after all, humans are environmental and experiential beings. The full article on inspirational quotes can be found here.

Where is the problem?

The problem lies in the first sentence of the previous paragraph: "...Belief is a cognitive process in which an individual accepts a statement as true or real, but based on some evidence, past experience, or cultural/moral norms...". An additional problem can be human experience and our (un)developed skill of judgment and decision-making.

Mr. Barnum

In the context of social networks, beliefs as a cognitive process, inspirational quotes, and everything else, Mr. Barnum also helps us. Phineas Taylor Barnum, better known as P.T. Barnum, was an American showman, and above all an entrepreneur, born in 1810. Barnum is best known for his circus, with which he traveled throughout the United States and which included exotic animals, oddities, acrobats and other attractions. Barnum is also known for the "Barnum effect," which refers to people's tendency to believe in general and generic statements that are very open to interpretation, but which seem very specific and accurate to them. This effect is often applied in fields such as astrology, horoscopes...

P.T. Barnum was known for his innovativeness and ability to recognize trends and audience needs.

Subjective Validation

Subjective validation is a psychological phenomenon that describes people's tendency to accept personality descriptions or characteristics that appear very precise and detailed, even though they are actually very general and applicable to a wide range of people. Essentially, subjective validation is based on the idea that people tend to seek confirmation about themselves and their characteristics from other people and external sources. When they receive a description that seems precise and detailed, and above all appropriate for them, it can evoke a feeling of being recognized and understood on a deeper level. This feeling of confirmation can be powerful and can encourage people to accept the description as accurate, regardless of how general or applicable to other people the description actually is.

Subjective validation can be useful in some situations, such as when people feel misunderstood or invisible. However, in other situations, it can be harmful if people accept inaccurate or unverified descriptions of themselves, which can lead to making wrong decisions or missing opportunities for personal growth and development. The effect of subjective validation is also known as the Barnum effect. Named after Mr. Barnum, the entertainer and manipulator of all time. 🙂

Social Networks

Subjective validation can be related to various social media posts, especially posts concerning personality, character, human experience, and self-help. For example, posts that offer general advice on how to improve your life or become happier, more successful professionally, can attract the attention of people looking for validation and confirmation of their worth.

When social media users share their views and opinions through statuses, they often use general and generic statements that are susceptible to the Barnum effect. For example, a status that says “I have always been lonely” can be considered very accurate and personal for the user who shares it, despite the fact that this statement can apply to many other people.

This can lead to a sense of connection and identification among social media users, but it can also be a cause for concern. When people rely on the Barnum effect, they may be prone to believing false information or beliefs, which can lead to erroneous conclusions or decision-making.

Need for Belonging

Today's societal changes, especially in the world of digitalization, diminish social contact. However, despite everything, humans must belong (to someone).

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who developed a hierarchy of human needs, known as Maslow's pyramid or hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, human needs can be classified into five different categories, ranging from basic needs to self-actualization needs.

One of the categories in Maslow's hierarchy of needs is the need for belonging. This refers to the need to feel connected with other people and to belong to a society or group. This need encompasses all types of belonging, such as family, friends, work community, teams, religion, nations, and others.

According to Maslow, the need for belonging is one of the basic human needs, and its fulfillment is crucial for psychological well-being and mental health. When people feel that they belong to a group, they feel less lonely, less anxious, and less depressed. Also, a sense of belonging can increase self-esteem and self-confidence.

In today's society, social networks and other forms of technology play an important role in fulfilling our need for belonging. People want to feel connected to others. People want to be understood.

And so, if you want to be followed, always, but always remember Mr. Barnum. 🙂

Subjective Validation and the Business Environment

Finally, for the article to have some connection to human resources management. 🙂 Subjective validation can also have consequences in the business environment. For example, when employees make decisions, they may be prone to seeking information that confirms their previous biases or viewpoints, while ignoring information that contradicts them. Additionally, people in a business environment may be more inclined to accept information that has a positive effect on their self-confidence or sense of worth, and disregard information that might threaten these feelings.