The Bizarreness Effect

We tend to remember unusual, bizarre, or distinctive information more easily than ordinary information. This bias reflects the impact of novelty on our memory retention.

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The study of the Bizarreness Effect can be traced back to the early days of cognitive psychology in the mid-20th century. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that researchers started investigating it more thoroughly. Craik and Tulving’s 1975 study found that people better recognized words presented in unusual contexts compared to ordinary ones. This laid the groundwork for further exploration.

In the 1980s, McDaniel and Einstein’s experiments solidified the Bizarreness Effect as a robust psychological phenomenon. They showed that bizarre information improved both recognition and free recall of information.

The 1990s and early 2000s focused on understanding the mechanisms behind the effect. Hunt and Worthen proposed that the distinctiveness of bizarre information was key to its memorability, arguing that it stood out against ordinary details.

Recent neuroscientific studies using fMRI have shown that processing bizarre information activates brain areas associated with novelty detection and memory formation more strongly than ordinary information does.

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In the context of team dynamics, the Bizarreness Effect has many implications on how our teams operate, innovate, and grow.

Understanding this effect is important for leaders in shaping culture and communication strategies. Slightly unconventional messages can make visions and values more memorable, but too much bizarreness can confuse or distract from the core message.

The effect impacts how organizations approach innovation. Encouraging unconventional thinking can lead to memorable, groundbreaking ideas. However, leaders should also be careful not to overlook effective conventional solutions!

Incorporating unusual elements into training programs could enhance retention and engagement in learning and development. For example, using unexpected analogies might help employees remember key concepts better.

Lastly, presenting ideas in slightly unconventional ways can make messages more engaging in change management. However, changes might face resistance if they’re perceived as too bizarre.

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Wacky and off-the-wall presentations are just more memorable!

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My former colleague and dear friend Derek Seibert is a master at giving memorable presentations.

If you’ve listened to my other Podcast, Retro Time // A Software Podcast, you’re familiar with Derek's quirky nature. If you’re not, let me tell you about my man, Derek.

Derek has a knack for telling great stories. He’s a software architect, which you might normally associate with nerdy introverts who like to work alone in corners, but that isn’t Derek. Well, it’s mostly not Derek. Derek is a huge nerd. And I love every bit of it.

But Derek is a master at getting people to understand incredibly complex ideas and concepts using off-the-wall techniques. And he does that in a few ways:

🛑 Derek is a master at the pattern interrupt. When he’s giving presentations about otherwise boring topics, he keeps it interesting. Whether it’s weird sound effects, a dad joke between slides, or random GIFs, his presentations about advanced microsystems architecture always get a laugh.

🔃 Derek is a master at analogies. He takes complex ideas and finds something to relate t to. But here’s the twist: it’s usually weird and totally random. It’s a connection most people would never make. But it always makes sense. And it ALWAYS sticks.

🧛 Derek is a master at character voices. Who expects random voice changes during a presentation about third-party integrations with SAP? I can guarantee you no one. But this completely out-of-the-ordinary way to share complex ideas makes you remember it.

So, the next time you have some incredibly boring, mundane information to share, take a cue from Derek and shake it up a bit.

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🎯 Here are some key takeaways

1️⃣ Be aware of the bias towards unusual information: Your team might naturally remember and talk more about strange ideas than normal ones. Try to give all ideas a fair chance, no matter how ordinary or unusual they seem.

2️⃣ Beware of this effect during employee reviews: The Bizarreness Effect can influence performance evaluations, potentially favoring employees with unusual approaches. This might unintentionally bias against consistently good performers with less attention-grabbing styles.

3️⃣ Employ the “pattern interrupt” technique: In long talks, throw in something unexpected now and then. This could be changing your tone, asking a surprise question, or giving a weird example. These changes can wake up your audience and help them remember what you’re saying.

4️⃣ Make sure everyone gets a chance: Remember that this effect might make people with unusual ideas stand out more. Make an effort to let all team members share their thoughts, whether their ideas are out-of-the-box or more traditional.

5️⃣ Keep things balanced when using unusual elements: While adding surprising bits can be effective, don’t go overboard. Make sure these unusual parts help explain your main points, not confuse people. Always keep your core message clear and easy to understand.

Learn more about the Bizarreness Effect!

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