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linguistics
You link abstract sounds to specific physical shapes.
Research by Ramachandran and Hubbard (2001) reported that 95% of participants associated the names as described, but this effect is not universal across all cultures.
The 95% figure and the 'bouba/kiki' terminology are from a 2001 study, not Köhler (1929), who used 'takete' and 'maluma' and did not report this specific percentage.
Your brain finds patterns even in nonsense.
Where this comes from
- Study
- Köhler, 1929, Gestalt Psychology
- What the check found
- The claim misattributes the 95% statistic to Köhler and incorrectly presents the effect as universal when cross-cultural studies show variability.
- 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.