Cold reading

Last week, the second semester started. This means 5 new courses and interesting assignments. The assignment of  Business Information Technology is to write a blog about something you learned during the courses at the University in Tilburg. During the next 10 weeks, I will write every week about a new topic.

During the course of cognitive science, teachers talked about decision making. People all over the world, make new decisions every day. There are also famous people who have to make decisions. One of these famous people is Char Margolis. Char is an American psychic medium who is using the method of cold reading during her shows.

Cold reading is a method to determine or express details about another person to convince that the reader knows a considerable number of details about the person than he actually does. Without prior knowledge of a person, a cold reader with experience can get enough information about a specific subject by analyzing the person. They also make guesses about the subject and ask the person whether they are in the right direction or not. After that, the reader emphasize that he recognizes the answer to a question.

During a cold reading session, a medium can use the following methods, which in combination can lead to interesting results:

• Analyze the person's gender, body language, age, clothes, hairstyle, level of education etc.
• Use of general statements.
• Show a considerable number of options without a refer to a specific subject.
• Observe the person during the session.
• Allows the person to speak enough during the reading session.
• Use ambigous questions.
• Flatter the person and say what he wants to hear.

If you want to know how a proffesional makes use of cold reading, check this movie :)