Modern psychologists call cold reading subtle manipulation, which allows using certain techniques to give the impression of an insightful person very knowledgeable in extraneous matters. Using this technique, experts explain all the effects of predictions and clairvoyance, which are produced by various kinds of workers in the transcendental sphere - fortunetellers, astrologers and others. We will talk below about what this method is and how it works.
About cold reading
First of all, you need to dot all the i. Although the so-called cold reading really takes place and allows one to explain some phenomena from the field of human interpersonal communication, it would be too rash to explain to them all things that are considered supernatural. Having learned this technology and having gained a hand in a series of trainings, a university specialist with a higher psychological education will certainly be able to play the role of an average fortune teller by issuing a prediction or characterization in the spirit of a newspaper forecast. But he is unlikely to be able to impute the knowledge and possession of this new-fangled psychological stray village old woman with the formation in seven classes of the Soviet village school, which, spreading out maps, is able to make accurate diagnoses and describe events, objects and people in such details that are too far from the ordinary streamlined universal formulas. Cold reading often serves as an attempt for unscrupulous scientists to explain part of the whole to please their prejudices. Their conclusions turn out to be unreasonable, not confirmed by a sufficient number of studies and statistical material. Therefore, do not flatter yourself and consider that, having mastered several tricks from this area, you will be equal to Vanga and Nostradamus.
Cold reading technique
Now let’s briefly look at a technique that allows you to get a general overview of what is called cold reading. Keep in mind that not in all situations their use is justified from a moral point of view.
Object selection
First you need to make a choice of the person whom you will read. To the extent possible, do it in advance. Professionals at this stage also attract their assistants to help, who previously casually meet and get acquainted with the object, tactfully and unobtrusively collecting information about it, which they then transmit to the reader before the session. If possible, you can ask for a volunteer, because usually these people are more susceptible. On the other hand, a person who is skeptical may be called a volunteer, which should be avoided in every possible way, since if the person reads coldly in this case, the technique may not work. If you are in a situation in which there is a certain audience, then you can make a small seed in the spirit of "I see that one of you has recently experienced problems in personal relationships." That is, you need to operate with general phrases that are suitable for many, if not all people. Then follow the reaction of people. As a rule, those who fall into the category of suitable ones will give themselves out as something. Then you can make a few more general, but still more specific statements, and continue to look at the audience. In the end, you will choose the most suitable subject for yourself, which by that time will be already quite impressed and located towards your session.
Visual monitoring and analysis
Starting a cold reading of a person, carefully consider it. It is very important. Even if you only have a couple of seconds, use them to the maximum. The identified details need to be comprehensively analyzed. Pay attention to such things as age, image, clothing brands, accessories, height, weight, the presence of jewelry (especially a wedding ring). As a rule, such things can tell a lot to an attentive observer, and it is on their analysis, among other things, that the cold reading method is based.
Language of the body
Then go on to scan your body language. Non-verbal messages are a very important source of information that makes cold reading more effective and deep. Observe how the object changes body position during the session, what gestures it makes, how facial expressions and eyes change. Most importantly, you should pick up three signals from this, indicating that you are speaking either correctly or neutrally, that is, you are somewhere nearby, or what you say, “past the cash register”. When you realize that you’ve made a mistake, you need to correct yourself carefully, quickly and resourcefully - such amendments can produce a noticeable effect and play in your favor.
Guess List
Further, the cold reading technique assumes that you are building a list of guesses about an object in your mind. Think about how you can characterize him, what can be assumed about him and his life. It does not matter that some of your assumptions turn out to be wrong. They will help you collect a complete image and implement effective cold reading of a person.
Object Dialog
Now start the conversation. First, introduce yourself and find out the name of your object. If possible, also ask about your last name. If you arrange a show a la communication with a deceased relative, then conduct the appropriate self-PR. But nevertheless it is better to refrain from such quackery, since it is not entirely ethical in relation to the object, and it discredits serious practitioners from among mediums.
Casting fishing rods
Cold reading at this stage involves asking questions constructed as if they were statements. For example: “I see that you have problems. After all, are they connected with a woman? ” Moreover, if the object agrees, the impression will be as if you knew it beforehand. And if he shakes his head negatively, then it does not matter, because you did not say anything, but only asked a question. In any case, you will clarify the situation, and in the future it will be easier for you to draw the right conclusion.
Feedback
Keep reading cool while maintaining feedback. Based on the answers of the object, build your assumptions about it and express them, diluting with interrogative constructions. Most often, the object itself will give you more than enough information to draw legitimate conclusions and please it with your "clairvoyance." Just listen carefully and relate the facts to each other - this is a cold reading. Examples of this kind of relationships are found in many in everyday life. Here is one option: a young man loves his cat very much, but informs you that he is very saddened that he will have to give it to another family. On his finger flaunts an engagement ring, according to which you can assume that he lives with his family. Therefore, parting with the animal will most likely be associated with one of them. Most often, this is a commonplace allergy in newborns.
Effect fixing
Here you need to say something that your object wants to hear. It should be one simple positive phrase that encourages him or morally supports him. This will help to accentuate the success and impression that your cold reading person has had. Examples of this kind of phrases: “everything will work out,” “you will survive everything and you will still laugh at it,” etc.
Advice
In conclusion, here are some tips to help make your session even more vibrant and productive.
First, use the Barnum effect in your reading , that is, use general formulations that are suitable for almost everyone. Usually, after such a phrase, a person is ready to open up and give out a portion of more specific information.
Secondly, appropriate the information that you learn from the person. For example, after the response of the object or its approval, pretend that you knew it without it and confirm what he said with phrases like “yes, that’s right. And besides, your wife is very worried about this. ” In addition, keep track of his thoughts, that is, carry out a cold reading of thoughts. This may be a little complicated at first, but with practice it will become an automatic skill. A cold reading of thoughts for beginners is primarily the assimilation of what the object usually says about its problems. That is, for example, phrases starting with “I love my wife very much” indicate that a person has some kind of problem with his wife. You need to take this into account and express it before him, starting with the word “but”, that is, something like this: “But lately you have lost a sense of understanding with her, and it worries both of you.” Then you can turn around: "You are also worried about how this can affect your children ...".
Thirdly, use the pauses to track the reaction of the object and adjust your line in accordance with it.
Fourth, do not admit your mistakes. Try to rebuild the wrong assumption so that it makes sense for the object. For example, one can get out of an incorrect postulate of an object having problems at work by saying that someone's problems at work affect it. Further, the object itself will find such a person.
Fifth, train artistry and be positive. Remember that charisma provides you half the success. Most people believe or want to believe in your discernment, they are interested. Therefore, the ambiguous points on the edge of which you are balancing, they will be inclined to interpret in your favor. If at the same time you will be attractive to them as a person, then your success, consider, has taken place.