Get To Know The Pratfall Effect In Psychology, The Effect Of Making Mistakes That Affect Attractiveness

Illustration of pratfall effect (iStock)

JAKARTA – Perfection is often measured by an impeccable attitude. But what if you accidentally spill coffee at work or stumble while walking? Apparently, in psychology there is a term to call someone more attractive when they make mistakes.

It is called the pratfall effect or the pratfall effect, where someone will look attractive when they do something stupid or make a mistake. Like in a drama film with the story of Si Cantik stumbling on the last stairs of the escalator and Si Ganteng seeing her charm from afar.

Citing the Brescia University page, Wednesday, November 17, the pratfall effect states that people who are considered highly competent are actually more likely to make everyday mistakes than not.

The pratfall effect was first studied by social psychologist Elliot Aronson in 1966. At that time Aronson speculated that people who were considered great by others could become more attractive after making small mistakes. Great people are considered more human when they make small mistakes. The effect is that other people like them more.

Aronson made an experiment out of his speculation. He found out of 48 college-age male participants, 92 percent who were considered great answered the quiz questions correctly. While the average person answered 30 percent of the questions correctly. And people who are great or excel do pratfall.

Aronson then asked participants to listen to recorded test results and ask a series of questions about their impressions of the people they heard. The result, as Aronson suspected, is that people who are considered great, superior, or superior are actually more favored if they make mistakes. For example, spilling his own coffee or tripping on the road. However, people's liking generally declines after committing the same mistake.

Through experiments conducted by Aronson, the pratfall effect can reveal reflective things related to social relations. First, it's okay to make mistakes as long as behind the mistakes prove the quality of oneself. Making small mistakes will generally make a person more socially attractive.

Second, this pratfall effect applies according to context. In fact, research after Aronson found that results could differ based on other factors, including gender.

Third, the pratfall effect does not apply to individuals who are considered to have mediocre abilities. They are even more likely to be negatively affected by their own mistakes.

In general, the pratfall effect can make a person learn how to carry himself in social relationships regardless of the magnitude of the mistake he made.