Subjective validation, also known as the personal validation effect, is a cognitive bias where individuals perceive a statement or piece of information as correct if it holds personal significance to them. This results in individuals finding connections between unrelated events due to their personal beliefs. It plays a crucial role in cold reading and explains the validation many feel in paranormal claims.
A famous example is the Forer effect, where students are given a generalized personality description that they believe accurately describes themselves, despite it being the same for everyone. Most rated their description highly, demonstrating the subjective validation in action.
To overcome subjective validation, seek objective evidence and diverse viewpoints before forming conclusions, rather than relying solely on personal biases or feelings.