|
Cold reading - Definition and Overview |
|
|
|
- For the theatrical training technique, see Cold reading (theatrical).
Cold reading is a technique used by salespeople, hypnotists, interrogators and fake psychics to convince other people that they know more about them than they actually do. Generally, the cold reader will make a series of vague statements, will observe their reaction, and then will refine the original statements to follow those reactions. This technique is sometimes abused, and may be applied in order to falsely convince an audience that the reader possesses psychic abilities.
If the techniques of cold reading are combined with the use of information obtained covertly, this is known as hot reading. However, even without prior knowledge of a person, a fake psychic could still obtain a great deal of his subject's history by carefully analysing his or her look and other background information, such as gender, religion, race, education level and place of origin. This is called profiling.
A number of actors have studied the techniques of cold reading and have posed as psychics offering either private fortune-telling sessions or open forum "talking with the dead" sessions in the manner of alleged psychic John Edward. Only after receiving acclaim and applause do they reveal that they needed no psychic power, only a knowledge of psychology and cold-reading. Such performers are known to include Ian Rowland, Mark Edward, Lynne Kelly and Kari Coleman.
External links
|
|
|
