A Better Bullshitter Does Not Have to Be a Bigger Bullshitter: Relations Among Bullshitting Measures and Cognitive and Personality Predictors of Bullshitting Ability

Abstract

Bullshit is considered a common part of interpersonal communication. People differ not only in how frequently they use bullshit but also in their ability to produce bullshit that effectively influences social impressions. In our study (N = 390), we aimed to examine predictors (verbal ability and divergent thinking) and correlates (dark triad traits) of bullshit ability and to relate the extent of this ability to its self-reported use. Additionally, we focused on the relationship between various methods of measuring bullshit (overclaiming and bullshitting frequency). Both verbal ability and divergent thinking were significant predictors of bullshit ability. Only Machiavellianism correlated positively, but weakly with bullshit ability. We did not find a statistically significant relationship between bullshit ability and bullshitting frequency, nor overclaiming and bullshitting frequency. Our results provide new insights into individual differences among bullshit producers and, for the first time, simultaneously link previously unexplored measures of bullshit: frequency and quality.