Anyone know simple ESP "tricks" I can do with my psychology class?

Question

I teach psychology and am constantly trying to find examples of "tricks" I can use to demonstrate ESP or perhaps how some frauds are able to trick people into believing they have it. I'm looking for simple tricks I can use in class. Please provide websites if possible.

Answer 1

Oldest magic trick in the book.

Before class, mark three pieces of paper with, for example, "1", "2", and "3". Hide these papers in separate and disimilar locations, and remember where each one is. Tell your audience that you can read their mind, and to pick either 1, 2 or 3. When they pick a number, tell them that you had already predicted that, and to look in whatever location you hid that number. As they retrieve the matching answer, Shazam, you predicted the future, or read their mind, whatever. Of course you don't tell them that the other two numbers are hidden elsewhere. You can do more than three selections if you'd like, but you need a good memory. Or you can use duplicate playing cards, etc. Naturally, do not repeat this trick. They'll catch on. And of course, always practice your patter before you get in front of your audience.

Less obvious variations include "predicting" a dice roll, How many wads of paper (out of five tries) that a person can toss into a waste basket from 15 feet, etc. In these cases, you obviously need more than three hidden answers. But it looks better, because your prepared answers will say "The dice rolled a five" or "Three tosses were made".

Variations of this simple technique are still foundations to modern tricks.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Anyone know simple ESP "tricks" I can do with my psychology class?
I teach psychology and am constantly trying to find examples of "tricks" I can use to demonstrate ESP or perhaps how some frauds are able to trick people into believing they have it. I'm looking for simple tricks I can use in class. Please provide websites if possible.

Answer 3

Watch some of David Blain's tricks. The ones where he tells someone to think of a number between 1 and 50 that only has odd numbers as digits and doesn't have two of the same digits and that doesn't have a 7 as a digit, etc, etc... and he guesses what they are thinking... in reality, there are only like 2 or 3 possible numbers once he's done telling you all the rules.

But you have to pretend like you are concentrating really hard or looking into their eye to figure it out.

Answer 4

Unfortunately not. Schools in Ireland don't cater for that, which is a pity. I was going to study it in college though, However, I have gone into psychology a great deal [well, when I say a great deal I'm probably only scratching the surface] by myself, and I find it and incredibly fascinating and incredible subject. I say definitely take the class if you have/think you will have an interest in it. :)

Answer 5

No offense, but are you even a prof? Ask your colleagues or do some research on your own.

That's psychology for you. People expect you to know the answers as a prof. not ask for them. Although that thinking is fallacious.

Oh and try changing your angry face if you want help and don't lead with "I teach psychology....." just ask politely for what you want.