Imagine making a mistake, getting angry with yourself, and feeling like you’re incompetent because of that mistake. It is very natural to think that such a situation is not good, most of us think like this; but social psychology apparently disagrees with us.
Social psychology suggests that mistakes that make a person feel bad actually have the power to create the opposite effect, contrary to what is believed, and this effect is called the Pratfall Effect. What is the Pratfall Effect like that can turn a person’s mistakes and sensitive points into an advantage? The answer to the question and more in our article!
What is the Pratfall Effect?
Pratfall Effect is a theory developed by social psychologist Elliot Aronson in 1966. According to this theory, the mistakes, clumsiness, sensitive points of someone who is perceived as “superior” by the society; Contrary to popular belief, it returns positive, not negative, to the person. These people who are glorified by the society; When he commits a mistake or similar action that would not be expected from a superior, exalted person, he becomes “human” by being purged of all his attributes in the eyes of the society, thus becoming more sympathetic, loved and attracted by the perception of “one of us”.
Aronson’s Pratfall experiment
Elliot Aronson, who wants to test his theory, is preparing an experiment with 48 university students. Participating students are divided into four groups. Audio recordings of the contestants who participated in the quiz and answered questions are played to each group. The key here is that each group listens to the audio recording of different contestants! A sound recording of a knowledgeable contestant in the first group, an ordinary contestant in the second group, a knowledgeable but clumsy competitor in the third group, and a clumsy contestant in the last group is played. It is seen that the knowledgeable ones answered 92% of the questions directed to them correctly, and only 30% of the ordinary ones who cannot be considered knowledgeable.
In order for the experiment to best test the Pratfall Effect, Aronson also provides additional information to the participants. Explaining how educated, successful and talented the knowledgeable competitors are, Aronson said; states that ordinary competitors have the opposite characteristics. Finally, during the competition of the first and fourth contestants, “Alas! Adding that he used expressions such as “I spilled coffee on the dress I just bought!” The result of the experiment supports the Pratfall Effect: While the knowledgeable and clumsy competitor is sympathetic to the participants by spilling coffee on him; it seems that the interest and sympathy for the ordinary competitor who made the same mistake has decreased.
Pratfall Effect in Daily Life
It can be said that it is quite easy to observe the Pratfall Effect, especially over celebrities and politicians. Being famous or taking an active role in politics is perceived as being superior by the society; The actions of people who are perceived as such and contrary to their superiority, make them more likeable and attractive with the Pratfall Effect.
One of the names that can be a good example of the Pratfall Effect is the late Mehmet Ali Birand. We think there is no one who does not remember the blunders made by Birand, who is famous, successful and has earned the respect of the society, while presenting the main news. When you think about these gaffes or see them somewhere and watch them, do you criticize them harshly or do you laugh at them? It is obvious that the majority of the society laughs at these blunders. So much so that we cannot imagine Birand without his blunders, we see these blunders as a fun part of him and we always mention him when we commemorate him. This is what we can call the Pratfall Effect: A big name that we are used to seeing on television can also stumble, and that name can make a blunder. It doesn’t make us criticize it or find it less likeable, but rather more fun and likeable.
When you think of Pratfall Effect, which name comes to your mind first, why? We look forward to your reply in the comments.
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