https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/news/features/debunking-psychic-abilities?fbclid=IwAR0qcefQX6kSMtDXu-H2O8o40Gqw-rnsAbQHlnk4VCWdZxIqMfRjM1qHqg8

“Forensic anthropologist and mind illusionist, Dr Matteo Borrini, demonstrates the techniques that psychics use to make people believe in paranormal powers.”

snip…

“A recent study conducted by one of his MSc Forensic Anthropology students, Natalie Conlan, has provided Matteo with an opportunity to perform his mind illusionist skills, all for the benefit of science.
As a member of the Magic Circle, Matteo took to the stage to demonstrate psychic abilities such as psychometry, dowsing, reading and mediumship in front of an audience of test subjects. Unknown to the audience at the time, the study was set up to analyse people’s perception of psychic detectives and how faith in the abilities of psychics encourages their involvement in forensic investigations.

The audience was surveyed before the demonstration to determine if they believed in psychic abilities. Following the performance, another questionnaire recorded if their perceptions had changed after watching Matteo. Subjects were then asked what they believed after he explained the clever techniques and showmanship skills that psychics use to convince audiences of their authenticity.

The study showed that the number of people who believed in paranormal abilities before the performance had increased six times following the demonstration and those who thought that psychic powers may be possible increased by 30%. The performance was so compelling that even some sceptics changed their mind. Dr Borrini later revealed to the audience how he replicated the stunts and tricks used by psychics, the data collected at this point showed an increase towards scepticism.

While these results were expected, Natalie and Matteo were surprised by how significant the increases were following the demonstration. Matteo explains that the experience is powerful enough for people to change their beliefs; it’s easy for people to believe what they see with their own eyes. “

add ‘n’ to title

Using my psychic powers I can tell there is something wrong with your n key.

dv said:

Using my psychic powers I can tell there is something wrong with your n key.

Or pebkac.

About the only psychic power that might be possible is telepathy if brain waves could be transmitted and then received and decoded by another brain

Michael V said:

dv said:

Using my psychic powers I can tell there is something wrong with your n key.

Or pebkac.

a little from column a and a little from column b

Cymek said:

About the only psychic power that might be possible is telepathy if brain waves could be transmitted and then received and decoded by another brain

that sort of shit happens all the time

The tests for psychic abilities aren’t overly impressive anyway, nothing like is portrayed in fiction.

transition said:

Cymek said:

About the only psychic power that might be possible is telepathy if brain waves could be transmitted and then received and decoded by another brain

that sort of shit happens all the time

Technology could allow wireless brain to brain interface on day but it might not be a good road to go down as you think things you’d never say or do and it could horrify the receiver

Arts said:

The study showed that the number of people who believed in paranormal abilities before the performance had increased six times following the demonstration and those who thought that psychic powers may be possible increased by 30%.

Those numbers seem a little strange.

Belief in “paranormal abilities” increased more than 18 times more than belief in “psychic powers”?

The Rev Dodgson said:

Arts said:

The study showed that the number of people who believed in paranormal abilities before the performance had increased six times following the demonstration and those who thought that psychic powers may be possible increased by 30%.

Those numbers seem a little strange.

Belief in “paranormal abilities” increased more than 18 times more than belief in “psychic powers”?

Paranormal is more ghost n stuff isn’t it and psychic powers like telepathy, telekinesis, but it is weird unless paranormal encompasses both

Cymek said:

transition said:

Cymek said:

About the only psychic power that might be possible is telepathy if brain waves could be transmitted and then received and decoded by another brain

that sort of shit happens all the time

Technology could allow wireless brain to brain interface on day but it might not be a good road to go down as you think things you’d never say or do and it could horrify the receiver

I was thinking people anticipate stuff, decode things all time, of mental life, of others, self and others etc, even my dog’s got telepathy. He’s not into the wireless communications though, put the phone to his ear and finds that disturbing, and TV doesn’t interest him at all.

So, you know telepathy has been around going way back, it all starts with an attribution like likely thinking something, followed by what might that be.

Cymek said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

Arts said:

The study showed that the number of people who believed in paranormal abilities before the performance had increased six times following the demonstration and those who thought that psychic powers may be possible increased by 30%.

Those numbers seem a little strange.

Belief in “paranormal abilities” increased more than 18 times more than belief in “psychic powers”?

Paranormal is more ghost n stuff isn’t it and psychic powers like telepathy, telekinesis, but it is weird unless paranormal encompasses both

Psychic powers are a subset of paranormal abilities.

dv said:

Cymek said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

Those numbers seem a little strange.

Belief in “paranormal abilities” increased more than 18 times more than belief in “psychic powers”?

Paranormal is more ghost n stuff isn’t it and psychic powers like telepathy, telekinesis, but it is weird unless paranormal encompasses both

Psychic powers are a subset of paranormal abilities.

Yes so more people belief in ghost, spirits as well as psychic abilities

The Rev Dodgson said:

Arts said:

The study showed that the number of people who believed in paranormal abilities before the performance had increased six times following the demonstration and those who thought that psychic powers may be possible increased by 30%.

Those numbers seem a little strange.

Belief in “paranormal abilities” increased more than 18 times more than belief in “psychic powers”?

the numbers are always strange when a study is reported on, since they usually use different methods of reporting (percentages v x). the interesting thing is that people will believe things more readily if they see it despite their pre ideas and beliefs.

Arts said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

Arts said:

The study showed that the number of people who believed in paranormal abilities before the performance had increased six times following the demonstration and those who thought that psychic powers may be possible increased by 30%.

Those numbers seem a little strange.

Belief in “paranormal abilities” increased more than 18 times more than belief in “psychic powers”?

the numbers are always strange when a study is reported on, since they usually use different methods of reporting (percentages v x). the interesting thing is that people will believe things more readily if they see it despite their pre ideas and beliefs.

Especially as the experiments could be easily manipulated and aren’t impressive anyway.
They seem set up in favour of positive outcomes

If you really wanted to test telepathy with an audience you’d ask them all to bring a book along of their choice cover hidden and choose random (?) ones to read a passage and transmit it to the receiver who should be able to recite it back.

Cymek said:

dv said:

Cymek said:

Paranormal is more ghost n stuff isn’t it and psychic powers like telepathy, telekinesis, but it is weird unless paranormal encompasses both

Psychic powers are a subset of paranormal abilities.

Yes so more people belief in ghost, spirits as well as psychic abilities

When I had my Nipple and Freckle reading tent on the Gold Coast I found most people were psychic agnostics.

I never call psychic hotlines.

I reckon, they’re psychic, they ought to know when i want to speak to them, and call me.

captain_spalding said:

I never call psychic hotlines.

I reckon, they’re psychic, they ought to know when i want to speak to them, and call me.

A good arrangement and one that is already working for me. So far they have not disturbed me once.

captain_spalding said:

I never call psychic hotlines.

I reckon, they’re psychic, they ought to know when i want to speak to them, and call me.

They could call you and claim you sent them a thought about changing long distance/electricity/internet/etc providers and how can they help

You have to go way back to the days of newts and cauldrons for a time when psychic was really bunked.
I don’t think it’s even half bunked now.

My psychic reader couldn’t make it to our appointment today due to unforeseen circumstances.

gaghalfrunt said:

My psychic reader couldn’t make it to our appointment today due to unforeseen circumstances.

snigger

Derren Brown

before him James Randi

before him Harry Houdini

From the 1900s up to the 1930s, nearly every issue of “Scientific American” magazine contained an article debunking psychic abilities.