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The Pratfall Effect - Why Small Mistakes Can Make People More Likeable
Why being imperfect can sometimes make a competent person seem more human, approachable, and relatable
Welcome to The Smarter Brain, a curation of thought-provoking ideas and actionable reads to help you build better habits and become more productive.
Happy reading - See you on Wednesday!
Cheers,
The Smarter Brain Team
Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins
3 Ideas for Better Habits
The Power of Vulnerability
A researcher and bestselling author Brené Brown known for her work on vulnerability, courage, shame, authenticity, and human connection.
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”
Source: Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Show Your Real Self
An acclaimed American poet, memoirist, and civil-rights activist Maya Angelou whose work frequently explored identity, vulnerability, resilience, and human experience.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
Source: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Dare to Fail
Robert F. Kennedy was an American politician and attorney who served as U.S. Attorney General and later as a U.S. senator.
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”
Source: To Seek a Newer World
The 4 Productivity Killers You Don’t Even Notice
Jay Papasan and Jordan Freed get brutally honest about why most people can’t stay on track. This isn’t another podcast on habits or hacks—it’s a deep dive into the real reasons your calendar is full and your goals are stuck. If you’ve ever felt like your time is slipping through your fingers, you’ll want to hear this.
Productivity Tools and Resources
The Pratfall Effect: Why Little Mistakes Make You More Likable
Explains the original 1966 experiment and the important condition behind the effect: a small mistake can increase likability when the person is already perceived as competent, but the same mistake can have the opposite effect on an average performer. Read more here.
Why Your Mistakes Make You More Likable
Explores why minor imperfections can make competent people seem more human and relatable, while emphasizing that serious mistakes, carelessness, or harmful behavior don't produce the same positive effect. Read more here.
Reflect on Your Mistakes
Reflectly is a guided journaling and wellness app that can help users reflect on emotions, experiences, and everyday situations. That makes it useful for thinking about embarrassment, mistakes, self-image, and authenticity. Its official materials confirm that it provides a journaling service and wellness content.
Learn From Imperfection
Day One is a journaling app designed for recording and revisiting experiences. It supports photos, audio, drawings, templates, reminders, and multiple journals, making it useful for keeping a record of situations where being imperfect affected your interactions with other people.
What We're Reading
Psychology of Relationships Newsletter - A research-based newsletter by relationship scientist Dr. Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. It translates relationship research into practical advice and explores topics such as attraction, trust, communication, and emotional connection.
Psych Yourself Up Newsletter - A newsletter written by a trainee clinical psychologist that focuses on practical psychological tools, evidence-based wellbeing advice, and fact-checking popular psychology claims.
Brain Food
Today I Learned: The Pratfall Effect is conditional. Research found that a small mistake can increase attraction when the person is already perceived as highly competent, but the same mistake can hurt the impression of someone whose competence is already low. (Source)
Science: A 2026 study involving six preregistered studies and 3,204 participants found that when people made harmless social mistakes, those who laughed at their own mistake were perceived as warmer, more competent, and more authentic than those who reacted with embarrassment. However, this benefit disappeared or reversed when the mistake caused harm to others. (Source)
Have a productive rest of your week,
The Smarter Brain Team
Resource Spotlight
The Pratfall Effect, Human Imperfection, and Why Being Flawless Can Create Distance
Monthly dispatches rooted in psychology, not polished perfection-this one's about why small, harmless mistakes can actually make highly competent people more likable. Explore how a little imperfection can humanize experts, leaders, and creators, making them feel more approachable, relatable, and authentic in a world increasingly dominated by flawless-looking content.
The Pratfall Effect, Vulnerability, and Turning Small Mistakes Into Connection
Monthly dispatches rooted in persuasion and communication, not polished performances-this one's about the surprising power of admitting that you don't have everything figured out. Explore how small, genuine mistakes can increase trust, approachability, and influence by showing people that even confident leaders and experts are human.
The Pratfall Effect, Authenticity, and Why Imperfection Makes Us More Relatable
Monthly dispatches rooted in psychology and human behavior, not manufactured perfection-this one's about why seeing someone make a small mistake can suddenly make them feel more accessible. Explore how competence combined with vulnerability can break down the distance created by perfection and create stronger feelings of connection.
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