Thames Valley (Berkshire & Oxfordshire) Paranormal Group

Hi guys:

This is my short essay on psychic fraud. I have just sentit for marking andwill let you know how i get on!!!


The Psychology of Psychic Fraud

Psychics.co.uk define fraud as The deliberate faking of paranormal phenomena, generally for the purpose of financial gain, psychological manipulation, or notoriety.

There are many ways in which a fradulent psychic can manipulate his surroundings and clients in order to provide a 'successful' reading.

For example Parapsychology: The Science of Unusual Experience gives the suggestion of a séance.
There are many ways in which the environment of the room can be manipulated in order to create the fraudsters desired effect. The most highly perceived idea of a séance is that the room is in complete darkness as this is the way most people imagine paranormal events occurring. The darkness of the room plays to peoples vulnerability enabling the initial seed of anticipation to be planted. The psychic may also use the darkness to his advantage for example he may employ assistants to hide and to lightly touch people. As most séances are depicted as the audiences needing to hold hands this also could be used to the advantage of the fraud as it stops curious people from reaching out and discovering any physical trickery involved.

Another technique that may be used is attention and distraction.

In a demonstration by a fake psychic it is important that the audience do not pay total attention to the goings on in the performance in order to disguise the use of trickery, this can be achieved by the host manipulating the audiences focal point by introducing colour, movement, sound or body-language.

A fraudulent psychic may develop several different ways of fabricating his ability, this enables him or her to switch methods during a performance if one method is failing to provide the desired effect to the audience. They will also have a number of 'escape plans' if something unpredicted occurs during their performance this could be anything from stating the conditions are not appropriate to an elaborate explanation if and when he may be caught out!

Very interesting Sarah, hope you get top marks!

Excellent stuff Sarah A+

thanks guys xx

Yes Thanks i find it very interesting