• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Sources of Insight

Better Insights, Better Results

  • Articles
  • Books
  • Courses
  • Topics
    • Personal Development
    • Leadership
    • Productivity
    • Personal Effectiveness
    • Emotional Intelligence
    • Mental Health
    • All Topics
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact

The Sleeper Effect

by JD

image

“Persuasion is often more effectual than force.” — Aesop

If you hear something multiple times is it true?

Do you find yourself believing something that originally you didn’t believe because you didn’t trust the source?

This might help explain it.

You Start To Believe Things Over Time

The sleeper effect is a delayed attitude change.  Technically, the sleeper effect is a phenomenon where a message that you originally discount, because of a "discounting cue," becomes more persuasive over time.

It happens like this: you hear something from a low-credible source, you dismiss the idea, but over time you start to believe it or become persuaded.

Beware of Believing Things That Aren’t True

I first learned about the sleeper effect in a Social Psychology class in college.  It didn’t really click for me at the time.  Now it makes perfect sense.  The danger is we start believing things that aren’t true.  Over time our memory simply disconnects the low-credibility source from the message.

Here’s an example.  I first heard that sneezing is like an orgasm from the movie The Lonely Guy, starring Steve Martin.  It’s from a movie, so it’s easy to dismiss.

Then over time, I hear the idea come up again but with variations like sneezing seven times in a row, so then I start to wonder (I’ve never actually seen anybody sneeze seven times in a row.)  This article on sneezing myths puts it to rest … sneezing is like an orgasm only in that they both produce powerful bodily convulsions.

Protect Yourself from the Sleeper Effect

A simple way to catch yourself from the sleeper effect is to ask yourself, "What’s that based on?"

Do you believe The Sleeper effect yet?

Photo by Olgierd Pstrykotworca.

Category: Influence, Intellectual-Horsepower, Mind, Thinking Skills

About JD

Previous Post:Task-Oriented vs. Relationship-Oriented Leadership StylesTask-Oriented vs. Relationship-Oriented Leadership Styles
Next Post:Getting Results the Agile Way is Now Available in PrintGetting Results is Now Available in Print

Sidebar

About the Author

JDI am J.D. Meier. Join me on a quest for the world's best insights and actions for work and life. Learn more...

My Best-Selling Book

This is the book that changes lives ...

Become a Better You with Skill!

Learn better skills for work and life. Stand on the shoulders of giants and awaken your greatness. Realize your human potential through the world’s best insights and actions for mind, body, emotions, career, finance, relationships, and fun.

Features

  • Book Summaries
  • Books I Recommend
  • Great Lessons Learned
  • Great Quotes
  • How Tos
  • Lists
  • Best Products

My Other Sites

JD Meier.com
Getting Results.com

Copyright © 2023 · Sources of Insight · All Rights Reserved