Voting Station

Clever Hans

Please vote to return to collections.

Animal

The Resume

    Arabian stallion brought to Germany by Wilhelm Von Osten
    Was taught to answer math problems by tapping his hoof
    Could also supposedly spell, tell time and recognize musical notes
    Was debunked by Oskar Pfungst in 1907

Why he might be annoying:

    For awhile, he had many scientists convinced he was a prodigy or even psychic.
    His mental abilities were disproved by a researcher who showed he used his observers' body language to determine when to start and stop tapping.
    A celebrity in his time, he is now mainly remembered by psychology students.
    Nazi field marshal Hans Günther von Kluge was allegedly nicknamed ‘Clever Hans.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was certainly very clever when it came to reading human body language.
    His owner sincerely believed in Clever Hans' abilities and was not trying to dupe anyone.
    He lent his name to the scientific term ‘Clever Hans Effect,' meaning the unintentional providing of cues.
    He illustrated the need for experimental subjects to be tested in isolation.
    He may have encouraged psychologists to begin considering the role subtle signals play in communication.

Credit: Georgina


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 22 Votes: 40.91% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 33 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 25 Votes: 44.00% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 23 Votes: 47.83% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 67 Votes: 56.72% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 235 Votes: 42.98% Annoying