Beyond Murphy's Law

Everyone’s heard of Murphy’s Law, but not many know the other so-called laws as identified and defined by other experts in various fields.

Here are a few other “laws” you might find amusing if not interesting. Sprinkle a few into the conversation at your next party.

First, let me officially define Murphy’s Law.

If anything can go wrong, it will.

That’s Murphy’s Law, named after Capt. Edward A. Murphy, an engineer working on Air Force Project MX981 at Edwards Air Force Base in 1949. The project was to see how much sudden deceleration a person can stand in a crash. *shudder* I can imagine how that project gave birth to Capt. Murphy’s Law.

Dunbar’s Number

The size of the human brain limits the number of stable relationships that one human being can maintain to about 150.

Created by English anthropologist Robin Dunbar in 1992, this means you can have about 150 good friends. This is roughly the average size of tribes, villages, and even military units in every country.

The Ben Franklin Effect

He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged. 

From 1791, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. This says that it’s easier to make a friend by asking for a favor than by giving a favor. (This seems odd to me. I would think if you’d done a favor for someone, that person would be more likely to help you than someone who has done a favor for you without reciprocation.)

Dunning-Kruger Effect

If you’re incompetent, you can’t know you’re incompetent. 

Defined by American social psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, this means that incompetent people overestimate their skills.

Humphrey’s Law

Paying too close attention to a normally automatic or unconscious activity hampers your ability to do it well.

Named for English psychologist George Humphrey, this means don’t overthink something.

Takeaway Truth

Don’t break Humphrey’s Law; just enjoy this post!