Cold reading video and analysis?

[UKBoy1977]

I am in the process of trying to open someone's eyes to the techniques of cold reading on another forum and was thinking what would be really useful is a video clip of a psychic/mentalist in action doing a convincing reading, and then be able to provide the transcript (with analysis) of that reading.

Does anyone know of one?

[ObscureReferenceMan]

I have a memory of seeing a something on Dateline or 20/20 on one of the big mediums (John Edward?). And the person showed the medium's schtick, then said, "Pretty convincing, eh?" But then went to the video tape, and showed how the medium gave vague hints, and the "sitter" provided all the answers.

Also, in one of Randi's TV appearances, he interviewed a pair of Russian sisters who could read people's "auras" from a photograph. They did a reading, and made the usual vague, Forer-esque comments. Then Randi told them the photo was of a convicted serial killer (Gacey? Dahmer?), and the sisters immediately said (in Russian), "Oh yes. We said he was evil. Very bad man." When, obviously they didn't.

But, sorry. No specifics.

[T'ai Chi]

I am in the process of trying to open someone's eyes to the techniques of cold reading on another forum and was thinking what would be really useful is a video clip of a psychic/mentalist in action doing a convincing reading, and then be able to provide the transcript (with analysis) of that reading.

Does anyone know of one?

I'd suggest getting it from a live session if possible. That way it is more likely to be unedited.

[CFLarsen]

I'd suggest getting it from a live session if possible. That way it is more likely to be unedited.

You don't need to see it unedited to learn how cold reading is being done. However, here are some analyses on live cold readings:

11 Techniques to Talk to the Dead (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jvplkl.htm)

11 Techniques to Talk to the Dead, Part II (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jelkl.htm)

11 Techniques to Talk to the Dead, Part III (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/sblkl.htm)

And some articles:

Graham Bishop: One lousy cold-reader (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/grahambishop.htm)

Sylvia Browne: Fast-Food Psychic (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/sylviabrowne.htm)

How John Edward got two "special hits" (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jespecialhits.htm)

The Many Contradictions of John Edward (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jecontradictions.htm)

The dead say the darndest things - The living will believe almost anything (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jeomaha.htm)

Talking the John Edward Blues (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jeblues.htm)

Greatest Hits And Misses of Psychic John Edward (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jehitsmisses.htm)

Birds of a Feather: A "special hit" does not hold water (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/jeniagara.htm)

Try the psychic dice! (http://www.skepticreport.com/funnies/psychicdice.htm)

Dead Man's Hand - Playing the Game of Cold-Reading (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/pokercoldreading.htm)

Cold Reading: Confessions of a "Psychic" (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/confessions.htm)

Give me $15,000......and in six months, I could make anyone a nationally-known psychic… (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/psychiceye.htm)

A History of Spiritualist Fraud in the 19th and 20th centuries (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychics/spiritualistfraud.htm)

[alfaniner]

I was doing my own real-time video analysis of the new JE show, but got disgusted and quit after five minutes of it.

[gfunkusarelius]

ha one thing i find amusing about most of the cold reading stuff i see and hear is that theses people go into a reading to "hear from" their loved ones but they dont hear crap 90% of the time. instead they just have a back and forth where the reader just tries to "tell" the person information that they already know! i would be peaved if i spent money on that. i mean, i spend 20 minutes answering questions to "find out" that my uncle had emphysema? and, oh by the way, he thinks about me and wants me to know things are alright? holy crap. what a laugh

[ObscureReferenceMan]

Larsen - Great list! I'll be bookmarking this thread.

[gdtbiker]

Wow, I have a headache already, and I haven't even gotten through half of the links. Good stuff tho! Thanks, CFLarsen! I'm saving the page for later reference.

[RemieV]

Yesterday I added audio of my visit to a psychic with a transcript to my web site.

http://www.skepticalanalysis.com

On the navigation bar on the left, go to SAPS news, and it's under the heading for 8/14.

There probably isn't the kind of analysis you're looking for, but I did break her statements down into "true", "false", and "future, cannot tell".

[jimtron]

I have a memory of seeing a something on Dateline or 20/20 on one of the big mediums (John Edward?). And the person showed the medium's schtick, then said, "Pretty convincing, eh?" But then went to the video tape, and showed how the medium gave vague hints, and the "sitter" provided all the answers.


I think that may have been Ian Rowland, a mentalist who wrote "Full Facts of Cold Reading."

[NepeanSkeptic]

Also, in one of Randi's TV appearances, he interviewed a pair of Russian sisters who could read people's "auras" from a photograph. They did a reading, and made the usual vague, Forer-esque comments. Then Randi told them the photo was of a convicted serial killer (Gacey? Dahmer?), and the sisters immediately said (in Russian), "Oh yes. We said he was evil. Very bad man." When, obviously they didn't.

But, sorry. No specifics.

ObscureReferenceMan, I came across your post google-searching for information on that that James Randi encounter. I found the details at this site in randi.org/hotline/1994/0000.html This was part of a very entertaining PBS Nova production "Secrets of the Psychics with James Randi." The serial killer was Ted Bundy. As I recall, the response to to Randi's revelation was, deliciously, "Well I said he had a dark side." These folks never have any sense of irony.

[ObscureReferenceMan]

Thanks, NepeanSkeptic!

And for those who'd like the link right here...
http://randi.org/hotline/1994/0000.html

[CFLarsen]

Since I posted the list above, SkepticReport has undergone some changes. Here are the links again:

11 Techniques to Talk to the Dead (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jvplkl.htm)

11 Techniques to Talk to the Dead, Part II (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jelkl.htm)

11 Techniques to Talk to the Dead, Part III (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/sblkl.htm)

Graham Bishop: One lousy cold-reader (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/grahambishop.htm)

Sylvia Browne: Fast-Food Psychic (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/sylviabrowne.htm)

How John Edward got two "special hits" (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jespecialhits.htm)

The Many Contradictions of John Edward (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jecontradictions.htm)

The dead say the darndest things - The living will believe almost anything (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jeomaha.htm)

Talking the John Edward Blues (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jeblues.htm)

Greatest Hits And Misses of Psychic John Edward (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jehitsmisses.htm)

Birds of a Feather: A "special hit" does not hold water (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/jeniagara.htm)

Try the psychic dice! (http://www.skepticreport.com/lighterside/psychicdice.htm)

Dead Man's Hand - Playing the Game of Cold-Reading (http://www.skepticreport.com/skepticism/pokercoldreading.htm)

Cold Reading: Confessions of a "Psychic" (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/confessions.htm)

Give me $15,000......and in six months, I could make anyone a nationally-known psychic… (http://www.skepticreport.com/psychicpowers/psychiceye.htm)

A History of Spiritualist Fraud in the 19th and 20th centuries (http://www.skepticreport.com/skepticism/belief1900.htm)

[CynicalSkeptic]

Shermer critiques Edward on some ABC news program. --apparently 20/20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWE5N8z2Aa4