Making diagnostic criteria specific and listing specific areas to be addressed in an interview are ways of ____ the Barnum effect in the resulting psychological report.
A) decreasing
B) increasing
C) maximizing
D) eliminating

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Barnum effect refers to the tendency of people to accept generalized, vague, and ambiguous statements as accurate descriptions of themselves, when in fact they could apply to almost anyone. By making diagnostic criteria specific and providing detailed areas to address in an interview, the resulting psychological report becomes less susceptible to the Barnum effect, as it focuses on specific and objective characteristics and behaviors rather than broad, general statements. Therefore, the best way to reduce the Barnum effect is by decreasing the vagueness and ambiguity in the report.

Making Diagnostic Criteria Specific and Listing Specific Areas to Be