The Pratfall Effect: Loopholes of Perfectionism

 Did you ever think spilling coffee on yourself or falling down in public can be beneficial? If not, give it another thought because according to social psychology, a few clumsy mistakes can give you an edge over all others. 

This is due to something called "The Pratfall Effect."

Well, we all want to be perfect and ensure that no mistakes are made anywhere. And, why is that? Perhaps because we think people who make no mistakes are more likeable and appreciated. And, if you think so too, the pratfall Effect might change your perception towards life for the rest of your life.

As described by Elliot Aronson, the pratfall effect indicates that a person might appear more appealing if he makes a mistake. Sounds absurd, right?

Let’s dwell deeper.

This effect depends upon how competent you consider the other individual. In other words, a person whom you consider highly competent would become more likeable or attractive after he makes a mistake. On the contrary, people whom you would label as average on the competency scale tend to become less attractive, even if they commit the same mistake.

But, why is this? Why are two people making the same mistake judged differently by your brain?

It’s sympathy that plays an important role here. When a successful individual commits an error, you tend to sympathize and relate with him more. On the contrary, sympathizing or relating with a person you consider average, threatens your self-esteem. Thus, your brain unintentionally rates the average individual's attractiveness on a comparatively lower level for committing the same error. In other words, making mistakes make people appear more human and more approachable. Perfect people can seem threatening or judgemental, but imperfect people offer a safe zone. Hence, they tend to be more socially attractive.

Moreover, studies have shown that the effects of pratfall are more applicable to males. Generally, women prefer people who do not make any errors regardless of their gender and social status. Although the conclusions cannot be readily generalized to any gender, neither population preferred the mediocre blunderer.

Also called the blemishing effect, this helps us understand the loopholes of always being perfect and why several big names such as Apple gained counterintuitive benefits by committing mistakes.

So, the next time you fall on the floor, make sure to make the best out of it!