A performer who does mind-reading illusions is called what?
AnswerA mentalist
Mentalists use psychology and stagecraft.
Science · Facts & stats
Psychic facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about psychic claims, mentalism and the science of intuition, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
What is "cold reading"?
AnswerUsing general statements and cues to seem insightful
Cold readers make vague guesses and refine them.
Going deeper
How many different symbols are on standard Zener cards?
Answer5
Circle, cross, wavy lines, square and star.
Why do vague personality descriptions feel accurate to many people?
AnswerThe Barnum (Forer) effect
People read general statements as personal.
What explains a Ouija board planchette seeming to move on its own?
AnswerThe ideomotor effect
Tiny unconscious muscle movements guide it.
Expert level
With five Zener symbols, what hit rate would pure guessing produce?
Answer20%
One in five is the chance rate.
In which year did Bertram Forer publish his classic personality-description experiment?
Answer1948
Forer's 1948 study showed the effect.
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