Cold Reading - The Secrets of Mentalists.

Cold reading is the combination of several fields such as psychology, sociology, morphopsychology, and nonverbal language. It is a rapid observation technique that makes it possible to interpret a person’s psychology through their clothing, their way of speaking, what they project, their physical appearance, their manners, and so on—but above all, to reach much deeper points, such as revealing the hidden traits of their personality.

It also makes it possible to listen better to those around you and to discover new ways of approaching them so that you may be better understood. Mentalists will reveal only the surface of a person’s character. Cold reading is, in fact, widely used in “divination” or to establish predictions; it is what allows the subject to accept a vague description of themselves as a complete truth.

Suggestibility tests have only one function: to bring the participant into a state of availability corresponding to a pre-established category. The work of cold readers consists above all in gathering as much information as possible. During this first evaluation phase, a skilled mentalist will quickly know which classification their subject can fit into. From these initial observations, only one accurate prediction will be possible.

They will then formulate questions that are fairly general, but above all highly persuasive and effective, producing a response. Most often, the person does not even realize that they have just answered questions. This is called verbal feedback, and it is enough to provide plenty of information, because people who experience it often show great openness. Simple formulations are used, practically true for everyone, with an effort that appears invisible and imperceptible.

A Few Examples of Cold Reading in Use

Our Body, the Reflection of Our Thoughts

According to psychologist Albert Mehrabian, the message we receive from another person breaks down as follows: 7% verbal—the essential substance, the core message, the content; 38% vocal—the intonations, pace, pauses, and silences; and 55% visual—the attitude, posture, gestures, and smile.

If you add it up, the total is staggering: 93% of paralanguage, from unconscious to unconscious, barely censored, “betrays” our whole being at every moment. These figures are, of course, not set in stone; they are simply an indication that helps us realize that paralanguage, in our present society, takes precedence over the actual content of the message.

Depending on our discomfort or our state of mind at the moment, our gestures, for example, are not always the same. Learn to recognize the person in a closed position, arms crossed. The person in a “cowboy” stance, hands on hips. Or the defensive person, in the “fig leaf” position: hands crossed at the level of the genitals. Or in the “shot” position: hands behind the back. Are the hands in “supination,” with the palms turned toward the sky?

A Good Mentalist Knows How to Observe Well

There are thousands of different cultures throughout the world. Each has its symbols, religion, history, cuisine, and dress codes. Recognizing a few of these elements can prove to be a real advantage in a mentalist’s toolkit: a ring, a tattoo, a pendant, an accent in the voice, and so on.

Is the female spectator wearing a red horn pendant? In certain regions of southern Italy, people believe in the “evil eye.” The Sicilian pugnu is a small wrist-shaped amulet, often made of gold or Sicilian red coral, worn around the neck. The more popular cuornu is a small horn-shaped amulet, or chili-shaped charm, believed to bring good luck when worn around the neck. It is possible that this person has been to Italy. In any case, the Italian lead is worth exploring for the mentalist.

Is the spectator wearing black-and-white cufflinks resembling a checkerboard or mosaic pavement? Perhaps there is a link with Freemasonry. Is the spectator wearing a ring with a Maltese cross? The symbol is obviously used by the Republic of Malta, but also by many organizations. Perhaps he is a professional firefighter. Is the spectator wearing a small necklace with the Star of David? Perhaps he is Jewish. A small crucifix? A “Hamsa” tattoo? An “Om” symbol? One could write an entire book about symbols and their potential meanings.

Pupils That Dilate

You have surely noticed that our pupils dilate according to the intensity of light. When we are in darkness, they open to allow us to perceive shapes. On the contrary, if an intense light source is projected into our eyes, they contract.

In the same way, depending on the signals we perceive, they do not always remain open in the same manner. They dilate, for example, when a visual element is perceived positively. A very good mentalist is capable of determining whether the information they give to the spectator is correct according to the movements of the spectator’s pupils. The lighter the eyes, the easier it is to observe their opening or closing.

“Pupillometry” is the name of the technique that measures changes in the diameter of your pupil in order to reveal the mental activity associated with it. Observing pupil dilation also means gaining insight into a person’s state of mind. When the person is excited, their pupil can reach a size far greater than normal. Conversely, in a state of anger, a negative attitude causes the pupil to contract.

Try the test: show three objects to a spectator and invite them to mentally choose one. Then present each object to the spectator one after the other while observing their pupils very carefully. There is a strong chance that they will dilate slightly at the sight of the chosen object.

Right-Handed or Left-Handed?

A good mentalist is capable of quickly determining whether an individual is right-handed or left-handed. If you have the opportunity to notice how they hold a pen, that is a first step. Is their watch on the right wrist or the left? That is another clue.

One last chance: observe the belt buckle of their trousers. If the metal tip that goes through the hole is pointing toward their left hand, they are probably left-handed, because they most likely tighten their belt with their left hand.

The Barnum Effect, Also Called the Forer Effect or the Well Effect

This phenomenon was highlighted by psychologist Bertram Forer in 1949. He named it the “Barnum effect”: the tendency people have to accept a vague personality description as applying precisely to themselves, without realizing that the same description could apply just as well to almost anyone.

Example:

“You need to be loved and admired, and yet you are critical of yourself. You certainly have weaknesses in your personality, but you generally know how to compensate for them. You have considerable potential that you have not used to your advantage. Outwardly, you are disciplined and know how to control yourself, but inwardly you tend to be worried and not very sure of yourself. Sometimes you seriously wonder whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing.”

The Barnum effect, used by many fortune-tellers, is a way of convincing spectators that you can read their minds...