About this episode
This episode explores the techniques behind cold reading and the psychology of psychic experiences.
The art of cold reading has convinced millions of people that gimmicks like crystal balls, palm reading, tarot cards, and other alleged paranormal abilities are real. People walk away from astrologers, mediums, and psychics saying "there's no way he could have known that" or other exclamations of amazement. But are these skills really paranormal, or can they be explained by a series of techniques just about anyone can master with practice? Longtime investigator Jim Underdown teams up with psychologist and author Richard Wiseman to deconstruct what is really happening in a typical psychic reading and sheds some light on why the experience sometimes seems so real.
People in this episode
Guests: Jim Underdown, Richard Wiseman
Topics covered
- cold reading
- psychics
- paranormal abilities
- psychology
- investigation
Keywords
- cold reading
- psychics
- tarot cards
- astrology
- mediums
- paranormal
- psychology
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Center for Inquiry
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