James Randi and a Psychic Artist

A medium contacts the spirits (apparently), while a 'psychic artist' draws the face of the spirit being contacted.

This is a good example of bad cold-reading. Cold-reading is the main technique used by self-proclaimed psychics such as Sylvia Browne and John Edward. It consists of throwing out random snippets of vague, highly generalised information (often names, numbers or initial letters) until one connects, then attempting to fit further information to it using logical guesswork and probability.
To the recipient of the psychic reading, this gives a strong illusion of specific information coming from some outside source. The recipient usually leaves convinced that the psychic was highly accurate, that they knew things they could never possibly have known, etc.
It is sometimes combined with 'hot reading', whereby the perfomer already has information about the person being given the reading, found out beforehand through a number of methods. The big-name TV psychics and faith healers use this technique heavily.

The effect is even more impressive if the psychic is performing on TV and has editorial control over the proceedings. Then, almost anything can be made to seem true.

From episode 1 of 'James Randi - Psychic Investigator' (1991)

* This video is fully annotated, and explains the techniques used by the psychic *

Category:

Education

Tags:

• james
• randi
• psychic
• paranormal
• investigator
• art
• artist

[sooperfukker]

I'M IN CONTACT WITH THE DEAD...

Does the name JOHN mean anything to anyone of you commenters out there?

[extragunbon]

She's a good artist. I think she'd make more money as an artist instead of a ghost whisperer.

[ffsboom]

@sooperfukker Yes, i think i watched some show awhile back with a character named John... Wait what, that wasn't what you meant? =(

[mchandler2112]

Why don't we round up all of her sketches and see if there are any twins!

[orestisDisturbed]

How do you know if a "psychic" has balls? He asks:

"Does the name Mahitobjettouinjonsennbourdon mean something to anyone?"

[BarryDong]

This is hysterical.

[weeryan2008]

@sooperfukker Yes. Ask him if he still has my vibrator, would you?

[DKukiewicz]

@sooperfukker I'm converted, my sister's cat's vet's brother had a friend once called John!!!

[marekmaxpabianice]

of course they CHARGE people for that... these people should spend some time in jail in my opinion... it is pretty easy to show they lie, I think...

[TheCrescentKnight]

@sooperfukker MY BROTHER'S NAME IS JON! Wait a minute, he spells his name without an H. Nevermind.

[Shadowfire74]

So this spirit makes you short of breath? then you start talking normally? people short of breath make gasps, learn how to act bitch! You just shitting yourself about being busted in front of hundreds of people LOLLOLOLOLOL

[AndiieTee]

@sooperfukker hmm. good point. i'll leave that to you ;) lol juuuust kidding