<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Cold reading is a process sometimes used by professional fake psychics, fake fortune-tellers, and mentalists to create the impression they can read minds. From the subject's perspective, it appears the reader has knowledge of that person's life—past, present, and future.

The process of cold reading begins with observation, which enables the reader to build an initial profile of the subject. Based upon this appraisal, along with an understanding of psychology and current trends; the reader is able to make a number of preliminary statements about the subject. These usually intersperse specific details relating to the subject's profile with general assertions, likely to be true about almost any person. This latter technique is called warm reading.

Probative statements follow these. Based upon the subject's reactions, the reader is then able to zero in and [expand upon details that appear to hit their mark, while abandoning those that do not. In the hands of an expert, this creates an uncanny effect.

Related Terms and Articles

• Telepathy
• Mentalism

Reference

• Cold Reading Tradecraft - The Art and Science of Cold Reading, 2002
• Derren Brown clip. Brown demonstrates the methods of some mediums.