When I was a little kid, my friend asked me for a pencil and I let him have it. He exclaimed to the class it made him smarter. At that time I was thought of being pretty smart. My friends who used the pencils agreed (I wonder why.)

 

But could it really have affected their work? It seemed to affect their math grade, that's for sure. It's placebo magic. I started to believe it, too.

 

But now it seems to be having a negative effect. When I write in something other than a pencil, I make more errors than with a pencil, both mathematical and grammatical. What's this effect called?

I think thats called the whiteout-manufacturers-dream-effect

it`s a similar effect exploited in the media when they get Celebrity X to endorse a product.

 

"If his pencil`s good enough for Him, it`s certainly good enough for me", mentality.

fact is they have the ability to score well anyway and it`s nothing to do with a pencil, it could be a lucky rabbits foot or something!

it`s some sort of Projection, onto an item as opposed to self beleif/esteem.