Psychic or Psychology - What's Right?

For a large part of my magical life, it has been drilled in that pretending to be a psychic is bad and immoral. Psychics are frauds and just trying to make a quick buck by messing with your life or exploiting your vulnerability.

But is this true?

I don’t think it’s a simple ‘yes or no’ answer. If there is someone pretending they can talk to the dead and using simple trickery to fool you into their lie, then yes, it’s bad. This is someone using another's loss for fame, recognition, and profit.

But are psychics in general like this?

No. Most psychics are kind people who are just looking to use their ‘gift’ to help others. The majority of them are unaware of mentalism techniques and are just ‘reading’ the cards/palm, etc. They are not making a lot of money, most charging anywhere between £15-£100 for a reading. They are not in it for the money. They are in it because they want to help.

When I personally perform, I give no disclaimers. I let people decide for themselves. I imagine if someone watched my show and had to make a guess, they would probably say I have a strong intuition or maybe a psychic gift. Others, though, probably think it’s all tricks, and there will be others who think it’s psychological techniques. I never claim anything. For me, it’s part of the mystery and wonder. Let people feed into their own ideas and beliefs to explain what they have experienced. One thing I do make clear - it’s all entertainment!

But what if I told people outright that I am a psychic? Is this bad?

Some of you reading instantly answered ‘yes’. Ask yourself, though, did you answer ‘yes’ from a moral standpoint, personal views, or was it because that’s what the magic community has drilled into us?

Is pretending to be psychic any worse than pretending that we are experts in psychology or body language?

One could argue that pretending to be an expert in reading body language is just as damaging, if not worse, than pretending to be psychic. Oz Perlman is an example of this, claiming that what he does is pure psychology, when those in the know are fully aware it’s all tricks presented as psychological methods.

Off the back of Oz Perlman’s success, he now has a book available helping people understand body language like he does. I feel he’s dug himself into a ditch which will be hard to climb out of!

Psychology, unlike psychic phenomena, is a fact. Psychology exists and there are many forms of psychology, from psychotherapy to the social sciences. Most people don’t know a huge amount about psychology; what we do know is that it’s:

• It’s science

• It exists - with evidence to support it

• It’s about the human mind

A perfect recipe for a mentalist to explain how they are performing these amazing feats.

What would you do if a corporate client asked you if you could come give a talk about behavioural psychology for their sales team? Would you be tempted or would you do it?

Unless you have your master’s in psychology or have worked in behavioural psychology, by saying yes, you are taking money on false pretences. You would be letting a client assume you have practical skills in an area that you pretend to be an expert in for entertainment.

Let’s look at this in a different way. What if you met someone who clearly ‘sounds’ like they know a lot about architecture? They use the right language, display technical insight and even tell you about past experience. They sound legitimate, so you ask them if they are able to help design an extension for your house. For a fee, they agree to take on the job. How would you feel now if you found out that actually they haven’t ever designed a property? In fact, they are just someone who enjoys watching Grand Designs on TV and architecture videos on YouTube.

I imagine you’d be pissed off because they lied to you! They led you down a path where it felt legitimate and real, but in reality, it was all bullshit.

Telling someone that you have an ability (whether psychic or psychological) comes with risk and potential temptation to take the lie too far.

So, what should you do? Tell people you’re psychic, a body language expert, or not say anything at all?

I don’t feel there is a clear answer. It ultimately comes down to what the performer chooses.

It’s all about what works for you, feels right, and is most importantly ethical. As performers, we can be honest about our limitations and avoid taking things too far.

Most importantly, remember that we are first and foremost entertainers. Entertainment, connection, and wonder should be at the core of everything we do.

I’m curious about your thoughts, though. I don’t claim to have the right answers, authority, or expertise to tell you what the right answer is. I don’t think anyone really does. Ultimately, it comes down to ethics and your personal stance on the topic.

So please let me and others know your thoughts in the comments.