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Alwow Special user Los Angeles 544 Posts |
As I continue to learn and evolve into a mind reader, I find myself more and more wanting to learn and understand people, as at least for me I feel like to know more about human behavior and our thought processes is a logical step for someone to truly be a mind reader. Being able to anticipate the most likely logical next step or leap for someone when presented a scenario (ala Psychological Subtleties) or simply telling someone about themselves without ever actually knowing them (Various reading systems or Astrology) very much intrigues me and I'm sure many of you will agree is simply quite fun to perform.
Now to the reason for my post... I'm sure I'm not the only person to come to this conclusion or walk this path so, I'm curious of what resource recommendations you guys be able to provide regarding better understand human behavior or even techniques which you have found to helpful on your path to becoming a mind reader. As a point of reference regarding a starting point for me. I currently own, Banachek's Psy Subtleties 1 & 2 as well as several cold reading books, I recently picked up a couple of astrology books, a graphology and palmistry book. I figured that all of these techniques would be useful for "naked" and impromptu performances or in times of need for some jazzing but, I want to learn even more and try to help myself be prepared and also enhance my ability to anticipate what may come before it happens. I know simply through performing I gotten better at anticipating and being prepared for what can go wrong or what someone may say but, I suppose I not only want to continue to evolve in this way but, being able to possibly understand the why someone would behave a certain way and then in turn be able to tell someone why they said something or behaved a certain way seems like something quite powerful in it's on right. Hopefully this ramble of mind makes sense to someone and as always thanks for reading and your replies.
"Everything I show you is the truth... And the truth is the loveliest of lies"
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
I have found (personally speaking), that its less about being a mind reader, but more of a person understanderer (made up term)... people like feeling as though they are understood, but it also depends on what skillset you are sharing/displaying too...
so if its psychologically based, I would have to say, that there is a good chance that you will meet people with that interest too, and some who have degrees in it (in some form or other) and so on...if any of them talk to you about it, the jig will soon be up if their knowledge outflanks yours and your claims...(hence derren's claims, and how certain elements of fans drag out certain parts of it disproportionally to suit their own beliefs and biases, which isn't derren's fault)... if you are a "straight arrow" mind reader, a purist even...then your claims are also straight forward, and your rules of engagement are too...you have a defined path that enables you to read minds under certain conditions... but a healthy knowledge of all things Psi-entific (ho ho ho) would obviously be useful...(Puthoff and Targ's MindReach is superb)... to avoid me rambling on and on - no one wants that, do they...i would think I can sum it up like this: the 60s mod band, Small Faces got together because they wanted to be just like Booker T and the MGs...but after playing together for a while, they found out they were something else entirely...despite those roots that ran through them all... so study who and what influenced your own personal influences, and slowly start spreading that net as you go along... if I gave you a list of books, films, people, art and so on that influenced, me - they'd be very little use to you...so this is more about self-discovery I would say... understanding who and what you are, and striving/working towards who and what you want to be will be healthy for you, and being able to share that with others will be beneficial in all kinds of circumstances...
I've asked to be banned
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Alwow Special user Los Angeles 544 Posts |
Iain, I'm glad you understood what I was getting at. I don't exactly consider myself a mind reader but, I haven't quite decided what to truly consider myself. I suppose maybe somewhere in between psychological and pure using psychological methods to mentally disarm/misdirect them allowing me in their head.
However, ultimately for me my ultimate goal is simply to share memorable experiences with my audiences. Thanks for the advice Iain.
"Everything I show you is the truth... And the truth is the loveliest of lies"
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IAIN Eternal Order england 18807 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-12-14 17:18, Alwow wrote: Quote:
On 2013-12-14 16:12, IAIN wrote: my work here is done...ha seriously, enjoy yourself...be kind to people, practice, rehearse, share, be interested and interesting...have at it!
I've asked to be banned
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MatthewSims Special user 778 Posts |
Alwow,
It seems the more you reveal about yourself and your character, the more I begin to see similarities between you and I. We all perform for different reasons, of which we title ourselves different things. You mention ultimately creating a memorable experience that can be shared, which is really what it's all about, isn't it? Two books I believe you would find immensely helpful is Passages by Gail Sheehy, and 50 Psychology Classics by Tom Butler Bowdon. I don't want to run the risk of just creating a littered list of resources for you to become drowned in. Purchase one book, read it, study it, takes notes. Purchase the next and do the same. "Lather, rinse, repeat"...didn't someone famous say that? Don't take yourself too seriously as I see most "mentalists" do. It takes away from the human to human connection that we are striving to achieve, and makes you look quite silly if I may say so. As Iain said, " enjoy yourself...be kind to people, practice, rehearse, share, be interested and interesting". It really is as simple as that. We get so caught up in the mechanics and technicalities of our craft that I fear we begin to lose the vision that we set out for ourselves, whatever that may be. The more I continue to grow in this art, the more I find myself stepping out of the limelight and moving away from the grand and mighty "mind reader". These days it seems I am leaning more towards a mind "facilitator", one in which simply conveys to the spectator the power of the human mind, as well as its fallacies...all the while striving to achieve and maintain a rapport that will ultimately create a memory of a special moment shared between two minds. Question yourself and your actions often, and always be conscious of your growth and the direction in which you are heading. Full steam ahead With a smile Matthew |
landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
Milton Erickson.
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Chaz93 Inner circle Texas 1754 Posts |
Erickson all the way, but I'd also suggest Bandler and Grinders works, as well as some of the stuff by Robert Anton Wilson, fiction or non-fiction. Prometheus Rising is rad.
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mindshrink Special user Delhi,India 916 Posts |
Passages by Gail Sheehy (?)
A great book,gives a look into a persons life depending on his age. Reading is an art and if you can empathise with the person you are reading you find the direction you ought to take depending on the response/feedback/yes-no responses you get from the person. No idea about the books mentioned by Chaz ...but Chaz being a person who gets nhis bread and butter from human psychology.it is worth a look. Doug Dyment gives a great list in Deceptionary.com...very comprehensive. The Dance...(probably a highly overrated book going by Café standards) gives you the thinking and is low on technique..rare book.My comments are based on someone who has read the book. |
ChrisC New user 66 Posts |
IMHO if you are looking to improve your performance as a mindreader/psychic entertainer then you should read and watch as much fiction about mind readers and psychics as possible for inspiration.
Mindshrink, why do you say The Dance is overrated? If anything I think it is underrated. |
Jon_Thompson Inner circle Darkest Cheshire 2404 Posts |
A particularly accessible area of psychology is the study of the glitches in thinking that lead us into false beliefs and incorrect assumptions. It's also the most applicable to the mystery arts. Cognitive biases and logical fallacies. You can begin with a quick skim through Wikipedia and then follow the external links to, or search for, deeper sources of knowledge. Something as simple as confirmation bias for example, which everyone seems to have heard of, has a particularly strong hold over us, but few people outside advertising and propaganda seem to exploit it to any degree.
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Energizer Special user A well known funeral palour 582 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-12-16 05:26, Jon_Thompson wrote: A great book along these lines is Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (who won the Nobel prize for economics). As someone who reads a lot more psychology than magic or mentalism, and as somebody who has a degree in psychology and MSc in psych research methods, I can tell you that Kahneman's book is one of the best I've ever read. Full of ideas and new ways of talking about the mind and behaviour that I had never even heard of. It is about the psychology of decision-making and reasoning, but there is a bit at the end on the psychology of happiness. A lot of the book is about how lazy our conscious minds are, and tend to be guided by stimuli which we only process unconsciously. But that is not all there is to it. A good book is Willpower by Baumeister. There is even a chapter on David Blaine in that book!
"We judge a book by its cover and read what we want between selected lines" - W. Axl Rose, circa 1992.
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yachanin Inner circle Cleveland, OH 2105 Posts |
Hi Alwow,
Energizer is correct about Kahneman's (and Tversky's) work in heuristics and it could give you some valuable insights into some of the ways people think. If you're interested in just getting a better overall background in what makes people "tick," consider getting an introductory Psychology textbook. Regards, Steve
"Impossible? Your audience will think so..." TM
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