Derren Brown, British illusionist and hypnotist, demonstrates the art of "cold reading". In the following video, Derren Brown writes a letter using "cold reading" techniques. After the participants read their supposedly "personalized letters" they are asked to rate how accurate their letter matched their personal history, goals, and beliefs. All participants claimed that the letter matched, almost perfectly, who they were as a person and what they wanted/needed to do in life; in other words, Derren Brown uncovers the bullshitry that is the "Patriarchal Blessing".

Non-existent-God bless Derren Brown and the BBC who pays him!!

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWjrEtu48Zk

In addition, here's an interesting wikipedia entry on what is called the "Forer Effect". The Forer Effect is what Derren Brown uses to "cold read" people:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forer_effect



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2012 12:41PM by sillysally.