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social dynamics
You are more likable when you make small mistakes.
The pratfall effect shows that a blunder increases the attractiveness of a high-competence individual, while the same blunder typically reduces the attractiveness of an average or low-competence individual.
The benefit is contingent on the subject's baseline perceived competence.
Perfection creates distance, while small failures allow others to relate to you.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Elliot Aronson, 1966, The Pratfall Effect
- What the check found
- The claim presents the effect as a universal benefit of clumsiness for high performers, whereas the original study found that the outcome depends entirely on the subject's prior perceived competence.
- Confidence
- Solid, with limits
Related
One of these every day, and every one names the study it came from. When a finding is contested, it says so.