The Acceptance of "Barnum" Personality Interpretations by Japanese, Japanese-American, and Caucasian American College Students

Abstract

Native Japanese, Japanese-American, and Caucasian American students at universities in Japan and Hawaii were compared on their acceptance of Barnum personality statements. The Barnum descriptions were filled with personality clich6s and were presented to the subjects as having been interpreted by "several clinical psychologists" from the Ss' Rorschach protocols. The results indicated that all three groups were equally and highly likely to endorse these descriptions as being true of themselves even when attempts were made to control for compliance effects. The findings were discussed with reference to similar acculturation influences in terms of mass media and course content self-concept learning experiences among university students. Finally, the utility of intra-and intercultural personality assessment was considered in terms of the high base rate Barnum statement acceptance.

Cross-Cultural Differences in the Acceptance of Barnum Profiles Supposedly Derived From Western Versus Chinese Astrology

“…First, it is consistent with the aforementioned lack of group differences in astrological belief. Second, it is consistent with previous evidence that Japanese and Japanese American students are just as prone to Barnum acceptance as Caucasian American students (Diamond & Bond, 1974). Third, it suggests that these cross-cultural consistencies apply not only to Barnum profiles supposedly derived from psychological testing (Diamond & Bond, 1974) but also to those supposedly derived from astrology.…”

“…Second, it is consistent with previous evidence that Japanese and Japanese American students are just as prone to Barnum acceptance as Caucasian American students (Diamond & Bond, 1974). Third, it suggests that these cross-cultural consistencies apply not only to Barnum profiles supposedly derived from psychological testing (Diamond & Bond, 1974) but also to those supposedly derived from astrology. Finally, Chinese respondents were just as prone to Barnum acceptance regardless of how much time they had spent studying, and thus becoming Westernized, at a British university.…”

“…Pulido Rull (2000) found that both Mexican students and Mexican mental health professionals were prone to Barnum acceptance following apparent psychological testing, findings that the author claims are comparable to those for U.S. populations. To date, only one study has examined cultural differences in the Barnum effect, with Diamond and Bond (1974) finding no differences across Japanese, Japanese American, and Caucasian American college students' acceptance of Barnum profiles supposedly derived from a Rorschach inkblot test. As yet, no studies have examined Barnum acceptance among Chinese recipients, nor have any studies examined the acceptance of fake astrological profiles across differences in recipient ethnicity.…”