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Greengross G, Silvia PJ, Crasson SJ. Psychotic and autistic traits among magicians and their relationship with creative beliefs. BJPsych Open 2023; 9:e214. [PMID: 37964594 PMCID: PMC10753969 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2023.609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a common perception that creativity is associated with psychopathology. Previous studies have shown that members of creative groups such as comedians, artists and scientists scores higher than the norm on psychotic traits, and scientists in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields score highly on autistic traits. AIMS To test whether magicians, a creative group that has not been studied before, also score highly on psychopathological traits and autism, and to test the associations of creative self-efficacy and creative identity with schizotypal and autistic traits among magicians. METHOD A sample of 195 magicians and 233 people from the general population completed measures of schizotypal traits (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences) and autism (Abridged Version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient), as well as the Short Scale of Creative Self. Magicians were also compared with other creative groups with respect to schizotypal traits, based on previously published data. RESULTS Magicians scored lower than the general population sample on three of the four schizophrenia measures (cognitive disorganisation, introvertive anhedonia and impulsive nonconformity) but did not differ with respect to unusual experiences or autism scores. Magicians scored higher on creative self-efficacy and creative personal identity than the general sample. Magicians' scores on schizotypal traits were largely lower than those of other creative groups. Originality of magic was positively correlated with unusual experiences (r = 0.208), creative self-efficacy (r = 0.251) and creative identity (r = 0.362). CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to show a creative group with lower scores than norms on psychotic traits. The results highlight the unique characteristics of magicians and the possible myriad associations between creativity and mental disorders among creative groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul J. Silvia
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA
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2
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Begey M, Didierjean A, Thomas C. The Vanishing Coin Illusion: When sound congruence affects visual representation of motion. Atten Percept Psychophys 2023; 85:1768-1776. [PMID: 37644344 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-023-02776-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
In the "classic" vanishing ball illusion (VBI), a magician pretends to throw a ball and the audience sees it go up and then disappear. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved, we conducted two experiments to analyze the permeability of this type of illusion to auditory information. A modified version of the VBI (i.e., the Vanishing Coin Illusion [VCI]), was presented, and this was either accompanied by a sound or was not. The results show that the presence of a sound adds to the success of the illusion (Experiment 1), especially when this sound is congruent with the illusion (Experiment 2). Based on these results, we discuss the mechanisms at work in this illusion.
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Bagienski SE, Kuhn G. A balanced view of impossible aesthetics: An empirical investigation of how impossibility relates to our enjoyment of magic tricks. Iperception 2023; 14:20416695221142537. [PMID: 36636255 PMCID: PMC9829883 DOI: 10.1177/20416695221142537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The performance art of magic allows us to experience the impossible, and this study used a balancing magic trick to investigate the relationship between participants' enjoyment and perceived impossibility. Participants watched a live performance of a magic trick in which the magician balanced objects in progressively more impossible configurations. At seven different time points observers rated their enjoyment, and the extent to which they believed what they saw was impossible. Regression analysis revealed that participants' enjoyment of the magical effect relates to their perceived impossibility of the magic trick, and this relationship was independent of how much they enjoyed magic in general. Moreover, a one-way within-subjects analysis of variance showed that participants enjoyed the performance More as the trick became more impossible. However, once the magical effect was anticipated, enjoyment began to plateau while perceived impossibility continued to increase. These results are discussed in the context of people's aesthetic appreciation of magic and current arts appreciation models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gustav Kuhn
- Gustav Kuhn, Goldsmiths University of London, London, UK.
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4
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Thosar NR, Bane SP, Deulkar PV, Deshpande MA, Gupta S. Effectiveness of Two Different Behavior Modification Techniques for Anxiety Reduction in Children. Cureus 2022; 14:e28141. [PMID: 36134077 PMCID: PMC9482440 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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5
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Masters P, Smith W, Kirley M. Extended Goal Recognition: Lessons from Magic. Front Artif Intell 2021; 4:730990. [PMID: 34870184 PMCID: PMC8633958 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2021.730990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The "science of magic" has lately emerged as a new field of study, providing valuable insights into the nature of human perception and cognition. While most of us think of magic as being all about deception and perceptual "tricks", the craft-as documented by psychologists and professional magicians-provides a rare practical demonstration and understanding of goal recognition. For the purposes of human-aware planning, goal recognition involves predicting what a human observer is most likely to understand from a sequence of actions. Magicians perform sequences of actions with keen awareness of what an audience will understand from them and-in order to subvert it-the ability to predict precisely what an observer's expectation is most likely to be. Magicians can do this without needing to know any personal details about their audience and without making any significant modification to their routine from one performance to the next. That is, the actions they perform are reliably interpreted by any human observer in such a way that particular (albeit erroneous) goals are predicted every time. This is achievable because people's perception, cognition and sense-making are predictably fallible. Moreover, in the context of magic, the principles underlying human fallibility are not only well-articulated but empirically proven. In recent work we demonstrated how aspects of human cognition could be incorporated into a standard model of goal recognition, showing that-even though phenomena may be "fully observable" in that nothing prevents them from being observed-not all are noticed, not all are encoded or remembered, and few are remembered indefinitely. In the current article, we revisit those findings from a different angle. We first explore established principles from the science of magic, then recontextualise and build on our model of extended goal recognition in the context of those principles. While our extensions relate primarily to observations, this work extends and explains the definitions, showing how incidental (and apparently incidental) behaviours may significantly influence human memory and belief. We conclude by discussing additional ways in which magic can inform models of goal recognition and the light that this sheds on the persistence of conspiracy theories in the face of compelling contradictory evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peta Masters
- School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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6
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Schnell AK, Loconsole M, Garcia-Pelegrin E, Wilkins C, Clayton NS. Jays are sensitive to cognitive illusions. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:202358. [PMID: 34457330 PMCID: PMC8371373 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Jays hide food caches, steal them from conspecifics and use tactics to minimize cache theft. Jays are sensitive to the content of their own caches, retrieving items depending on their preferences and the perishability of the cached item. Whether jays impose the same content sensitivity when they steal caches is less clear. We adapted the 'cups-and-balls' magic routine, creating a cognitive illusion to test whether jays are sensitive to the (i) content of hidden items and (ii) type of displacement. Subjects were presented with two conditions in which hidden food was consistent with their expectations; and two conditions in which food was manipulated to violate their expectations by switching their second preferred food for their preferred food (up-value) or vice versa (de-value). Subjects readily accepted food when it was consistent with their expectations but were more likely to re-inspect the baited cup and alternative cup when their expectations were violated. In the de-value condition, jays exhibited longer latencies to consume the food and often rejected it. Dominant subjects were more likely to reject the food, suggesting that social factors influence their responses to cognitive illusions. Using cognitive illusions offers innovative avenues for investigating the psychological constraints in diverse animal minds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Loconsole
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Clive Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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7
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Won I, Gross S, Firestone C. "Impossible" Somatosensation and the (Ir)rationality of Perception. Open Mind (Camb) 2021; 5:30-41. [PMID: 34296049 PMCID: PMC8288431 DOI: 10.1162/opmi_a_00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Impossible figures represent the world in ways it cannot be. From the work of M. C. Escher to any popular perception textbook, such experiences show how some principles of mental processing can be so entrenched and inflexible as to produce absurd and even incoherent outcomes that could not occur in reality. However, impossible experiences of this sort are mostly limited to visual perception; are there “impossible figures” for other sensory modalities? Here, we import a known magic trick into the laboratory to report and investigate an impossible experience for somatosensation—one that can be physically felt. We show that, even under full-cue conditions with objects that can be freely inspected, subjects can be made to experience a single object alone as feeling heavier than a group of objects that includes the single object as a member—an impossible and phenomenologically striking experience of weight. Moreover, we suggest that this phenomenon—a special case of the size-weight illusion—reflects a kind of “anti-Bayesian” perceptual updating that amplifies a challenge to rational models of perception and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Won
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Steven Gross
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chaz Firestone
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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8
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Ortega J, Montañes P, Barnhart A, Kuhn G. Differential Effects of Experience and Information Cues on Metacognitive Judgments About Others' Change Detection Abilities. Iperception 2021; 12:20416695211039242. [PMID: 34471513 PMCID: PMC8404646 DOI: 10.1177/20416695211039242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored the interaction between visual metacognitive judgments about others and cues related to the workings of System 1 and System 2. We examined how intrinsic cues (i.e., saliency of a visual change) and experience cues (i.e., detection/blindness) affect people's predictions about others' change detection abilities. In Experiment 1, 60 participants were instructed to notice a subtle and a salient visual change in a magic trick that exploits change blindness, after which they estimated the probability that others would detect the change. In Experiment 2, 80 participants watched either the subtle or the salient version of the trick and they were asked to provide predictions for the experienced change. In Experiment 1, participants predicted that others would detect the salient change more easily than the subtle change, which was consistent with the actual detection reported in Experiment 2. In Experiment 2, participants' personal experience (i.e., whether they detected the change) biased their predictions. Moreover, there was a significant difference between their predictions and offline predictions from Experiment 1. Interestingly, change blindness led to lower predictions. These findings point to joint contributions of experience and information cues on metacognitive judgments about other people's change detection abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeniffer Ortega
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Montañes
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Barnhart
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gustav Kuhn
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Gronchi G, Zemla JC. Cognitive style predicts how people explain mental magic tricks. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2021; 218:103347. [PMID: 34082379 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Magic tricks are deceiving, yet we can readily generate an explanation for a trick that we do not fully understand. In three experiments, we show that the way people explain a mental magic trick depends on their individual cognitive style. Analytical thinkers tend to generate explanations that appeal to rationality, such as using physical props to accomplish an effect. In contrast, intuitive thinkers are more likely to generate irrational explanations that accord with the magician's provided backstory, such as using subliminal cues to guide a spectator's choices. We observe this effect when measuring a participant's cognitive style using the Cognitive Reflection Test, and also when manipulating a participant's cognitive style using a simple narrative prompt.
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10
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Garcia-Pelegrin E, Schnell AK, Wilkins C, Clayton NS. Exploring the perceptual inabilities of Eurasian jays ( Garrulus glandarius) using magic effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2026106118. [PMID: 34074798 PMCID: PMC8214664 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026106118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, scientists have begun to use magic effects to investigate the blind spots in our attention and perception [G. Kuhn, Experiencing the Impossible: The Science of Magic (2019); S. Macknik, S. Martinez-Conde, S. Blakeslee, Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions (2010)]. Recently, we suggested that similar techniques could be transferred to nonhuman animal observers and that such an endeavor would provide insight into the inherent commonalities and discrepancies in attention and perception in human and nonhuman animals [E. Garcia-Pelegrin, A. K. Schnell, C. Wilkins, N. S. Clayton, Science 369, 1424-1426 (2020)]. Here, we performed three different magic effects (palming, French drop, and fast pass) to a sample of six Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius). These magic effects were specifically chosen as they utilize different cues and expectations that mislead the spectator into thinking one object has or has not been transferred from one hand to the other. Results from palming and French drop experiments suggest that Eurasian jays have different expectations from humans when observing some of these effects. Specifically, Eurasian jays were not deceived by effects that required them to expect an object to move between hands when observing human hand manipulations. However, similar to humans, Eurasian jays were misled by magic effects that utilize fast movements as a deceptive action. This study investigates how another taxon perceives the magician's techniques of deception that commonly deceive humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Garcia-Pelegrin
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra K Schnell
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Wilkins
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola S Clayton
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
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11
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Lewry C, Curtis K, Vasilyeva N, Xu F, Griffiths TL. Intuitions about magic track the development of intuitive physics. Cognition 2021; 214:104762. [PMID: 34051423 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Many successful magic tricks violate our assumptions about how physical objects behave, but some magic tricks are better than others. We examined whether the interest adults express in a magic trick is predicted by the age at which infants first respond to violation of the corresponding physical principle. In Experiment 1, adults (N = 319) rated their interest in magic tricks mimicking stimuli from violation-of-expectation experiments with infants. We found a clear correlation between how interesting a trick is and the age at which infants demonstrate a sensitivity to its underlying principle. In a second experiment (N = 350), we replicated this finding and also used three additional tricks for which there is no established age of acquisition to predict the age at which those physical principles might be acquired. A third experiment (N = 368) replicated these findings measuring adults' surprise at physical violations rather than their interest in magic tricks. Our results suggest that adults' intuitions reflect the development of physical knowledge and show how magic can reveal our expectations about the physical world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Lewry
- Department of Psychology, Princeton University, USA.
| | - Kaley Curtis
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - Fei Xu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Thomas L Griffiths
- Department of Psychology, Princeton University, USA; Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, USA
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12
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Wiseman R, Wiles A, Watt C. Conjuring up creativity: the effect of performing magic tricks on divergent thinking. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11289. [PMID: 33954060 PMCID: PMC8053378 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Research suggests that learning to perform magic tricks can promote both physical and psychological wellbeing. The current study extended this work by examining the impact of learning magic tricks on divergent thinking. A group of 10- to 11-year-old children completed Guilford’s Alternate Uses Test both before and after participating in either a magic-based, or art-based, activity. As predicted, compared to the art-based activity, the magic-based activity resulted in a significantly greater increase in both AUT Fluency and AUT Originality scores. Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale and Dweck’s Implicit Theories of Intelligence Scale for Children was also completed after each activity, and participants’ self-esteem scores were higher after the art-based activity than the magic-based activity. In an exploratory aspect of the study, the AUT was re-administered to both groups three weeks later, and yielded no significant differences. The practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Wiseman
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Wiles
- Unaffiliated, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Watt
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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Bonete S, Osuna Á, Molinero C, García-Font I. MAGNITIVE: Effectiveness and Feasibility of a Cognitive Training Program Through Magic Tricks for Children With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. A Second Clinical Trial in Community Settings. Front Psychol 2021; 12:649527. [PMID: 33868126 PMCID: PMC8049719 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.649527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have explored the impact of magic tricks on different basic cognitive processes yet there is a need of examining effectiveness of a cognitive training program through magic tricks for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study examines the effectiveness and feasibility of the MAGNITIVE program, a manualized intervention for cognitive training through the learning of magic tricks. A total of 11 children with ADHD (from 8 to 12 years) participated in separated groups of two different community settings (hospital center and school), and were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a 3-month later follow-up in different tasks involving processing speed, sustained attention, selective attention, and mental flexibility. Using non parametric statistical analyses and Reliable Change Index, the results showed that these children receiving MAGNITIVE particularly improved their performance in sustained attention, shifting attention, and mental flexibility, changes were also observed in processing speed performance yet further research is needed in terms of selective attention and inhibition, given the great individual differences within this sample. Changes were maintained when the program was finished. In terms of viability, the study proved a good treatment integrity in different contexts (hospital and school setting), adherence to the curriculum (attendance and some practice at home), and high levels of engagement satisfaction. In this second clinical trial, MAGNITIVE program appears to be a feasible training program for children with ADHD, as an alternative for medication when possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saray Bonete
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángela Osuna
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Molinero
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid, Spain
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Mind Control Tricks: Magicians' Forcing and Free Will. Trends Cogn Sci 2021; 25:338-341. [PMID: 33640253 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A new research program has recently emerged that investigates magicians' mind control tricks, also called forces. This research highlights the psychological processes that underpin decision-making, illustrates the ease by which our decisions can be covertly influenced, and helps answer questions about our sense of free will and agency over choices.
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15
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Reply to Cole: Magic and deception-do magicians mislead science? Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2022099118. [PMID: 33414271 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022099118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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16
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Pailhès A, Kuhn G. The apparent action causation: Using a magician forcing technique to investigate our illusory sense of agency over the outcome of our choices. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2020; 73:1784-1795. [PMID: 32478591 PMCID: PMC7583451 DOI: 10.1177/1747021820932916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We often fall victim of an illusory sense of control and agency over our thoughts and actions. Magicians are masters at exploiting these illusions, and forcing techniques provide a powerful way to study apparent action causation-the illusion that our action caused the outcome we get. In this article, we used the Criss-Cross force to study whether people can tell the difference between an action which had an impact on the outcome they get and one which has no impact. In the Criss-Cross force, participants are asked to cut to a card, and while they are genuinely free to cut the cards at any position, the cut does not affect the card they are given (i.e., they always get the top card). We investigate the psychological processes that underpin the success of this force. Experiment 1 (N = 60) showed that participants cannot tell the difference between a forced and a controlled outcome. Experiment 2 (N = 90) showed that contrary to common magicians' knowledge, misdirection does not play a role in the success of the force. Finally, Experiment 3 (N = 60) suggests that rather than misdirection, an attribute substitution error explains why people fail to understand that their action does not have an impact on the outcome they get. Debriefing also shows the importance of participants' expectations in the perception of the trick, as well as the role of prediction of the outcome in participants' sense of agency over the events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Pailhès
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
| | - Gustav Kuhn
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
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Camí J, Gomez-Marin A, Martínez LM. On the cognitive bases of illusionism. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9712. [PMID: 32904334 PMCID: PMC7453929 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive scientists have paid very little attention to magic as a distinctly human activity capable of creating situations that are considered impossible because they violate expectations and conclude with the apparent transgression of well-established cognitive and natural laws. This illusory experience of the "impossible" entails a very particular cognitive dissonance that is followed by a subjective and complex "magical experience". Here, from a perspective inspired by visual neuroscience and ecological cognition, we propose a set of seven fundamental cognitive phenomena (from attention and perception to memory and decision-making) plus a previous pre-sensory stage that magicians interfere with during the presentation of their effects. By doing so, and using as an example the deconstruction of a classic trick, we show how magic offers novel and powerful insights to study human cognition. Furthermore, live magic performances afford to do so in tasks that are more ecological and context-dependent than those usually exploited in artificial laboratory settings. We thus believe that some of the mysteries of how the brain works may be trapped in the split realities present in every magic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Camí
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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Wiseman R, Houstoun W, Watt C. Pedagogic prestidigitation: using magic tricks to enhance educational videos. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9610. [PMID: 32742819 PMCID: PMC7380277 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research suggests that magic tricks can be employed within an educational context to enhance attention, engagement, critical thinking and recall. This study builds on this work by examining the impact of incorporating magic tricks into an online educational video. Adult participants (N = 198) completed a need for cognition scale and then watched a video containing either several bespoke card tricks that had been specially devised to help tell the story of the Apollo Moon landings (Magic Video), or an almost identical video that did not contain any magic tricks (Control Video). All participants rated their levels of engagement, absorption and recall. Compared to the Control Video, the Magic Video was rated as significantly more interesting, informative and absorbing. There was no difference between the groups for recall. There was a positive correlation between participants’ need for cognition scores, and the degree to which they found the Magic Video interesting, and were willing to share it with others. The theoretical, methodological and practical implications of these results are discussed, along with recommendations for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Wiseman
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - William Houstoun
- Centre for Performance Science, Royal College of Music, University of London, London, UK
| | - Caroline Watt
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Influencing choices with conversational primes: How a magic trick unconsciously influences card choices. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:17675-17679. [PMID: 32661142 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000682117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Past research demonstrates that unconscious primes can affect people's decisions. However, these free choice priming paradigms present participants with very few alternatives. Magicians' forcing techniques provide a powerful tool to investigate how natural implicit primes can unconsciously influence decisions with multiple alternatives. We used video and live performances of the mental priming force. This technique uses subtle nonverbal and verbal conversational primes to influence spectators to choose the three of diamonds. Our results show that a large number of participants chose the target card while reporting feeling free and in control of their choice. Even when they were influenced by the primes, participants typically failed to give the reason for their choice. These results show that naturally embedding primes within a person's speech and gestures effectively influenced people's decision making. This raises the possibility that this form of mind control could be used to effectively manipulate other mental processes.
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Kuhn G, Pailhès A, Lan Y. Forcing you to experience wonder: Unconsciously biasing people’s choice through strategic physical positioning. Conscious Cogn 2020; 80:102902. [DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2020.102902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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21
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Braithwaite FA, Walters JL, Moseley GL, Williams MT, McEvoy MP. Towards more credible shams for physical interventions: A Delphi survey. Clin Trials 2020; 17:295-305. [PMID: 32153205 DOI: 10.1177/1740774520910365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS In clinical trials of physical interventions, participant blinding is often poorly addressed and therapist blinding routinely omitted. This situation presents a substantial barrier to moving the field forward. Improving the success of blinding will be a vital step towards determining the true mechanisms of physical interventions. We used a Delphi approach to identify important elements of shams for physical interventions to maximise the likelihood of participant and therapist blinding in clinical trials. METHODS Two expert groups were recruited: (1) experts in research methodology and (2) experts in deceptive and/or hypnotic techniques including magic. Magicians were included because they were considered a potentially rich source of innovation for developing credible shams due to their unique skills in altering perceptions and beliefs. Three rounds of survey were conducted, commencing with an open-ended question. Responses were converted to single 'items', which participants rated in the following two rounds using a 9-point Likert scale, categorised as 'Not important' (0-3), 'Depends' (4-6) and 'Essential' (7-9). Consensus was pre-defined as ≥80% agreement within a 3-point category. RESULTS Thirty-eight experts agreed to participate (research methodology: n = 22; deceptive and/or hypnotic techniques: n = 16), and 30 experts responded to at least one round (research methodology: n = 19; deceptive and/or hypnotic techniques: n = 11). Of 79 items, five reached consensus in the 'Essential' category in both groups, which related to beliefs of participants (n = 3 items), interactions with researchers (n = 1 item) and standardisation of clinical assessments (n = 1 item). Thirteen additional items reached consensus in the 'Essential' category in one group. Experts in research methodology had one additional item reach consensus, related to authentic delivery of study information. The remaining 12 additional items that reached consensus in the deceptive and/or hypnotic techniques group related mainly to therapist attitude and behaviour and the clinical interaction. CONCLUSION Experts agreed that, for shams to be believable, consideration of cognitive influences is essential. Contrary to the focus of previous shams for physical interventions, replicating the tactile sensation of the active treatment was not considered an essential part of sham development. Therefore, when designing sham-controlled clinical trials, researchers should carefully consider the cognitive credibility of the entire intervention experience, and not just the indistinguishability of the sham intervention itself. The findings provide new guidance to researchers on important contributors to blinding in physical intervention trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie L Walters
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - G Lorimer Moseley
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Marie T Williams
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Maureen P McEvoy
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Wiseman R, Watt C. Conjuring cognition: a review of educational magic-based interventions. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8747. [PMID: 32195059 PMCID: PMC7067183 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
For hundreds of years, magic tricks have been employed within a variety of pedagogic contexts, including promoting science and mathematics, delivering educational messaging, enhancing scepticism about the paranormal, and boosting creative thinking for product design. This review examines this diverse body of work, focusing on studies that have assessed the impact of such interventions. Although the studies tended to yield positive outcomes, much of the work suffered from methodological shortcomings, including measuring the impact of interventions over a relatively short period of time, focusing on self-report measures and failing to employ control groups. The paper makes several recommendations for future study in the area, including assessing the longer-term impact of magic-based interventions, comparing these interventions to other types of pedagogic techniques, focussing on knowledge retention and behavioural outcomes, and collaborating with magicians to develop more impactful interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Wiseman
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Watt
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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Towards more homogenous and rigorous methods in sham-controlled dry needling trials: two Delphi surveys. Physiotherapy 2020; 106:12-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2019.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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24
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Spence C, Youssef J, Kuhn G. Magic on the Menu: Where Are All the Magical Food and Beverage Experiences? Foods 2020; 9:foods9030257. [PMID: 32121054 PMCID: PMC7143165 DOI: 10.3390/foods9030257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Magic and dining have long been popular forms of entertainment. What is more, both involve some kind of transformation, and yet while the more theatrical aspects of dining have grown in popularity in recent decades, there is a surprising paucity of magical food and beverage experiences out there. In this article, we trace the historical appearance of food and drink and culinary items in the performance of magic. We also review some of the more magical elements of food design that have appeared on menus in bars and restaurants in recent years. We introduce the edible lightbulb dish from the menu at Kitchen Theory Chef’s Table and link it to the stage magic of Derren Brown. We also discuss some of the reasons as to why magical food experiences might be rare in the context of dining. In so doing, our hope is to highlight an intriguing area for future research and innovation. Along the way, we identify some possible candidate approaches for the introduction of edible magic onto the menu in the context of modernist cuisine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Spence
- Crossmodal Research Laboratory, Oxford University, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Jozef Youssef
- Kitchen Theory, Unit 9A Alston Works, London EN5 4LG, UK;
| | - Gustav Kuhn
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London SE14 6NW, UK;
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Matthews N, Welch L, Festa EK, Bruno AA, Schafer K. Global depth perception alters local timing sensitivity. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228080. [PMID: 31971977 PMCID: PMC6977760 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamic environments often contain features that change at slightly different times. Here we investigated how sensitivity to these slight timing differences depends on spatial relationships among stimuli. Stimuli comprised bilaterally presented plaid pairs that rotated, or radially expanded and contracted to simulate depth movement. Left and right hemifield stimuli initially moved in the same or opposite directions, then reversed directions at various asynchronies. College students judged whether the direction reversed first on the left or right–a temporal order judgment (TOJ). TOJ thresholds remained similar across conditions that required tracking only one depth plane, or bilaterally synchronized depth planes. However, when stimuli required simultaneously tracking multiple depth planes–counter-phased across hemifields–TOJ thresholds doubled or tripled. This effect depended on perceptual set. Increasing the certainty with which participants simultaneously tracked multiple depth planes reduced TOJ thresholds by 45 percent. Even complete certainty, though, failed to reduce multiple-depth-plane TOJ thresholds to levels obtained with single or bilaterally synchronized depth planes. Overall, the results demonstrate that global depth perception can alter local timing sensitivity. More broadly, the findings reflect a coarse-to-fine spatial influence on how we sense time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor Matthews
- Department of Psychology, Denison University, Granville, OH, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Leslie Welch
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic & Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States of America
| | - Elena K. Festa
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic & Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States of America
| | - Anthony A. Bruno
- Department of Psychology, Denison University, Granville, OH, United States of America
| | - Kendra Schafer
- Department of Psychology, Denison University, Granville, OH, United States of America
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26
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Lanthier SN, Jarick M, Zhu MJH, Byun CSJ, Kingstone A. Socially Communicative Eye Contact and Gender Affect Memory. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1128. [PMID: 31231266 PMCID: PMC6558403 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of their value as a socially communicative cue, researchers have strived to understand how the gaze of other people influences a variety of cognitive processes. Recent work in social attention suggests that the use of images of people in laboratory studies, as a substitute for real people, may not effectively test socially communicative aspects of eye gaze. As attention affects many other cognitive processes, it is likely that social attention between real individuals could also affect other cognitive processes, such as memory. However, from previous work alone, it is unclear whether, and if so how, socially communicative eye gaze affects memory. The present studies test the assumption that socially communicative aspects of eye gaze may impact memory by manipulating the eye gaze of a live speaker in the context of a traditional recognition paradigm used frequently in the laboratory. A female (Experiment 1) or male (Experiment 2) investigator read words aloud and varied whether eye contact was, or was not, made with a participant. With both female and male investigators, eye contact improved word recognition only for female participants and hindered word recognition in male participants. When a female investigator prolonged their eye contact (Experiment 3) to provide a longer opportunity to both observe and process the investigator's eye gaze, the results replicated the findings from Experiments 1 and 2. The findings from Experiments 1-3 suggest that females interpret and use the investigator's eye gaze differently than males. When key aspects from the previous experiments were replicated in a noncommunicative situation (i.e., when a video of a speaker is used instead of a live speaker; Experiment 4), the memory effects observed previously in response to eye gaze were eliminated. Together, these studies suggest that it is the socially communicative aspects of eye gaze from a real person that influence memory. The findings reveal the importance of using social cues that are communicative in nature (e.g., real people) when studying the relationship between social attention and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie N. Lanthier
- Brain, Attention, and Reality Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michelle Jarick
- Atypical Perception Laboratory, Department of Psychology, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Mona J. H. Zhu
- Cognition and Natural Behaviour Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Crystal S. J. Byun
- Brain, Attention, and Reality Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alan Kingstone
- Brain, Attention, and Reality Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Abstract
Recently, performance magic has become a source of insight into the processes underlying awareness. Magicians have highlighted a set of variables that can create moments of visual attentional suppression, which they call "off-beats." One of these variables is akin to the phenomenon psychologists know as attentional entrainment. The current experiments, inspired by performance magic, explore the extent to which entrainment can occur across sensory modalities. Across two experiments using a difficult dot probe detection task, we find that the mere presence of an auditory rhythm can bias when visual attention is deployed, speeding responses to stimuli appearing in phase with the rhythm. However, the extent of this cross-modal influence is moderated by factors such as the speed of the entrainers and whether their frequency is increasing or decreasing. In Experiment 1, entrainment occurred for rhythms presented at .67 Hz, but not at 1.5 Hz. In Experiment 2, entrainment only occurred for rhythms that were slowing from 1.5 Hz to .67 Hz, not speeding. The results of these experiments challenge current models of temporal attention.
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28
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Yao R, Wood K, Simons DJ. As if by Magic: An Abrupt Change in Motion Direction Induces Change Blindness. Psychol Sci 2019; 30:436-443. [PMID: 30730789 DOI: 10.1177/0956797618822969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Magicians claim that an abrupt change in the direction of movement can attract attention, allowing them to hide their method for a trick in plain sight. In three experiments involving 43 total subjects, we tested this claim by examining whether a sudden directional change can induce change blindness. Subjects were asked to detect an instantaneous orientation change of a single item in an array of Gabor patches; this change occurred as the entire array moved across the display. Subjects consistently spotted the change if it occurred while the array moved along a straight path but missed it when it occurred as the array changed direction. This method of inducing change blindness leaves the object in full view during the change; requires no additional distractions, visual occlusion, or global transients; and worked in every subject tested here. This phenomenon joins a body of magic-inspired work that yields insights into perception and attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Yao
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Katherine Wood
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Daniel J Simons
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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30
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Wiseman R, Watt C. Achieving the impossible: a review of magic-based interventions and their effects on wellbeing. PeerJ 2018; 6:e6081. [PMID: 30564527 PMCID: PMC6286798 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Research has demonstrated that involvement with mainstream performing arts, such as music and dance, can boost wellbeing. This article extends this work by reviewing little-known research on whether learning magic tricks can have an equally beneficial effect. We first present an historic overview of several magic-based interventions created by magicians, psychologists and occupational therapists. We then identify the potential benefits of such interventions, and review studies that have attempted to systematically assess these interventions. The studies have mostly revealed beneficial outcomes, but much of the work is of poor methodological quality (involving small numbers of participants and no control group), and has tended to focus on clinical populations. Finally, we present guidelines for future research in the area, emphasizing the need for more systematic and better-controlled studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Wiseman
- Psychology, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Watt
- Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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31
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Fake science: The impact of pseudo-psychological demonstrations on people's beliefs in psychological principles. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207629. [PMID: 30481220 PMCID: PMC6258475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Magicians use deception to create effects that allow us to experience the impossible. More recently, magicians have started to contextualize these tricks in psychological demonstrations. We investigated whether witnessing a magic demonstration alters people's beliefs in these pseudo-psychological principles. In the classroom, a magician claimed to use psychological skills to read a volunteer's thoughts. After this demonstration, participants reported higher beliefs that an individual can 1) read a person's mind by evaluating micro expressions, psychological profiles and muscle activities, and 2) effectively prime a person's behaviour through subtle suggestions. Whether he was presented as a magician or psychologist did not influence people's beliefs about how the demonstration was achieved, nor did it influence their beliefs in pseudo-psychological principles. Our results demonstrate that pseudo-psychological demonstrations can have a significant impact on perpetuating false beliefs in scientific principles and raise important questions about the wider impact of scientific misinformation.
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32
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Abstract
Theatrical magic is designed to elicit negative emotions such as feelings of vulnerability, loss of control, apprehension, fear, confusion, and bafflement. This commentary suggests that the Distancing-Embracing model can help us understand how the experience of magic can be aesthetically pleasurable, not despite, rather thanks to, some of the strong negative emotions it provokes.
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33
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Cocchini G, Galligan T, Mora L, Kuhn G. The magic hand: Plasticity of mental hand representation. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2018; 71:2314-2324. [DOI: 10.1177/1747021817741606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Internal spatial body configurations are crucial to successfully interact with the environment and to experience our body as a three-dimensional volumetric entity. These representations are highly malleable and are modulated by a multitude of afferent and motor information. Despite some studies reporting the impact of sensory and motor modulation on body representations, the long-term relationship between sensory information and mental representation of own body parts is still unclear. We investigated hand representation in a group of expert sleight-of-hand magicians and in a group of age-matched adults naïve to magic (controls). Participants were asked to localise landmarks of their fingers when their hand position was congruent with the mental representation (Experiment 1) and when proprioceptive information was “misleading” (Experiment 2). Magicians outperformed controls in both experiments, suggesting that extensive training in sleight of hand has a profound effect in refining hand representation. Moreover, the impact of training seems to have a high body-part specificity, with a maximum impact for those body sections used more prominently during the training. Interestingly, it seems that sleight-of-hand training can lead to a specific improvement of hand mental representation, which relies less on proprioceptive information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna Cocchini
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Toni Galligan
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Laura Mora
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
| | - Gustav Kuhn
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
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34
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Abstract
In the vanishing ball illusion (VBI), the magician throws a ball up into the air twice and then pretends to do a third throw. On the third (fake) throw, the audience sees the ball go up and then disappear. In this article, we study the psychological mechanisms at play in this magic trick. We test the hypothesis that the illusion is based on representational momentum (RM), a psychological phenomenon in which the observer perceives the stopping point of a moving scene as being located farther ahead in the direction of motion than it really is. To determine whether the mechanisms involved in VBI are similar to those underlying RM, we compared the results of a standard VBI task to those obtained on an RM task designed to be very close to the VBI task. The results showed that VBI sensitivity was not associated with a higher anticipation score on the RM task. Unexpectedly, we found that participants who were sensitive to the illusion even obtained a weaker RM effect. We discuss several hypotheses that might account for these results.
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35
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Lamont P. A Particular Kind of Wonder: The Experience of Magic past and Present. REVIEW OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1037/gpr0000095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Wonder may be an important emotion, but the term wonder is remarkably ambiguous. For centuries, in psychological discourse, it has been defined as a variety of things. In an attempt to be more focused, and given the growing scientific interest in magic, this article describes a particular kind of wonder: the response to a magic trick. It first provides a historical perspective by considering continuity and change over time in this experience, and argues that, in certain respects, this particular kind of wonder has changed. It then describes in detail the experience of magic, considers the extent to which it might be considered acquired rather than innate, and how it relates to other emotions, such as surprise. In the process, it discusses the role of belief and offers some suggestions for future research. It concludes by noting the importance of context and meaning in shaping the nature of the experience, and argues for the value of both experimental and historical research in the attempt to understand such experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lamont
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh
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36
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Moss SA, Irons M, Boland M. The magic of magic: The effect of magic tricks on subsequent engagement with lecture material. BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 87:32-42. [PMID: 27753081 DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Lecturers often present entertaining videos, or organize a variety of amusing demonstrations, to foster student engagement or to encourage critical analysis. Magic tricks, in particular, have been shown to activate neural circuits that underpin motivation or problem-solving and, therefore, could be beneficial during lectures. Nevertheless, we hypothesize that, unless the method that underpins these tricks is revealed, students may ruminate over possible explanations, distracting attention from the lecture material. SAMPLE AND METHODS To test these arguments, in this study, 224 participants watched a video of a magic performance, watched a video of a circus act, or watched no video at all. In half the participants who watched the magic performance, the secret that underpinned the trick was disclosed. Next, participants watched a psychology tutorial, before answering questions that assessed engagement, need for cognition, and comprehension of the material. RESULTS If the secret was withheld, magic tricks diminished subsequent need for cognition but did not affect comprehension. Furthermore, magic tricks tended to diminish engagement with the subsequent tutorial. These effects, however, were small. CONCLUSION Future research is warranted to ascertain whether information that is embedded within a magic trick, rather than presented after the trick, is more likely to be remembered or understood later. This research could clarify when performance can enhance or disrupt student engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon A Moss
- School of Psychological and Clinical Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Melanie Irons
- School of Psychological and Clinical Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Martin Boland
- School of Psychological and Clinical Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
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37
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Tompkins ML, Woods AT, Aimola Davies AM. The Phantom Vanish Magic Trick: Investigating the Disappearance of a Non-existent Object in a Dynamic Scene. Front Psychol 2016; 7:950. [PMID: 27493635 PMCID: PMC4954827 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drawing inspiration from sleight-of-hand magic tricks, we developed an experimental paradigm to investigate whether magicians’ misdirection techniques could be used to induce the misperception of “phantom” objects. While previous experiments investigating sleight-of-hand magic tricks have focused on creating false assumptions about the movement of an object in a scene, our experiment investigated creating false assumptions about the presence of an object in a scene. Participants watched a sequence of silent videos depicting a magician performing with a single object. Following each video, participants were asked to write a description of the events in the video. In the final video, participants watched the Phantom Vanish Magic Trick, a novel magic trick developed for this experiment, in which the magician pantomimed the actions of presenting an object and then making it magically disappear. No object was presented during the final video. The silent videos precluded the use of false verbal suggestions, and participants were not asked leading questions about the objects. Nevertheless, 32% of participants reported having visual impressions of non-existent objects. These findings support an inferential model of perception, wherein top-down expectations can be manipulated by the magician to generate vivid illusory experiences, even in the absence of corresponding bottom-up information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne M Aimola Davies
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of OxfordOxford, UK; The Australian National University, CanberraACT, Australia
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38
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Ekroll V, Wagemans J. Conjuring Deceptions: Fooling the Eye or Fooling the Mind? Trends Cogn Sci 2016; 20:486-489. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2016.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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39
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Smith W, Dignum F, Sonenberg L. The Construction of Impossibility: A Logic-Based Analysis of Conjuring Tricks. Front Psychol 2016; 7:748. [PMID: 27378959 PMCID: PMC4906630 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychologists and cognitive scientists have long drawn insights and evidence from stage magic about human perceptual and attentional errors. We present a complementary analysis of conjuring tricks that seeks to understand the experience of impossibility that they produce. Our account is first motivated by insights about the constructional aspects of conjuring drawn from magicians' instructional texts. A view is then presented of the logical nature of impossibility as an unresolvable contradiction between a perception-supported belief about a situation and a memory-supported expectation. We argue that this condition of impossibility is constructed not simply through misperceptions and misattentions, but rather it is an outcome of a trick's whole structure of events. This structure is conceptualized as two parallel event sequences: an effect sequence that the spectator is intended to believe; and a method sequence that the magician understands as happening. We illustrate the value of this approach through an analysis of a simple close-up trick, Martin Gardner's Turnabout. A formalism called propositional dynamic logic is used to describe some of its logical aspects. This elucidates the nature and importance of the relationship between a trick's effect sequence and its method sequence, characterized by the careful arrangement of four evidence relationships: similarity, perceptual equivalence, structural equivalence, and congruence. The analysis further identifies two characteristics of magical apparatus that enable the construction of apparent impossibility: substitutable elements and stable occlusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wally Smith
- Department of Computing and Information Systems, The University of MelbourneMelbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Frank Dignum
- Department of Information and Computing Sciences, Universiteit UtrechtUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Liz Sonenberg
- Department of Computing and Information Systems, The University of MelbourneMelbourne, VIC, Australia
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40
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Williams H, McOwan PW. Manufacturing Magic and Computational Creativity. Front Psychol 2016; 7:855. [PMID: 27375533 PMCID: PMC4901183 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes techniques in computational creativity, blending mathematical modeling and psychological insight, to generate new magic tricks. The details of an explicit computational framework capable of creating new magic tricks are summarized, and evaluated against a range of contemporary theories about what constitutes a creative system. To allow further development of the proposed system we situate this approach to the generation of magic in the wider context of other areas of application in computational creativity in performance arts. We show how approaches in these domains could be incorporated to enhance future magic generation systems, and critically review possible future applications of such magic generating computers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard Williams
- School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary University of LondonLondon, UK
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Hergovich A, Oberfichtner B. Magic and Misdirection: The Influence of Social Cues on the Allocation of Visual Attention While Watching a Cups-and-Balls Routine. Front Psychol 2016; 7:761. [PMID: 27303327 PMCID: PMC4885884 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, a body of research that regards the scientific study of magic performances as a promising method of investigating psychological phenomena in an ecologically valid setting has emerged. Seemingly contradictory findings concerning the ability of social cues to strengthen a magic trick’s effectiveness have been published. In this experiment, an effort was made to disentangle the unique influence of different social and physical triggers of attentional misdirection on observers’ overt and covert attention. The ability of 120 participants to detect the mechanism of a cups-and-balls trick was assessed, and their visual fixations were recorded using an eye-tracker while they were watching the routine. All the investigated techniques of misdirection, including sole usage of social cues, were shown to increase the probability of missing the trick mechanism. Depending on the technique of misdirection used, very different gaze patterns were observed. A combination of social and physical techniques of misdirection influenced participants’ overt attention most effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Hergovich
- Department of Applied Psychology: Work, Education and Economy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Oberfichtner
- Department of Applied Psychology: Work, Education and Economy, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
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Wiseman RJ, Nakano T. Blink and you'll miss it: the role of blinking in the perception of magic tricks. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1873. [PMID: 27069808 PMCID: PMC4824881 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Magicians use several techniques to deceive their audiences, including, for example, the misdirection of attention and verbal suggestion. We explored another potential stratagem, namely the relaxation of attention. Participants watched a video of a highly skilled magician whilst having their eye-blinks recorded. The timing of spontaneous eye-blinks was highly synchronized across participants. In addition, the synchronized blinks frequency occurred immediately after a seemingly impossible feat, and often coincided with actions that the magician wanted to conceal from the audience. Given that blinking is associated with the relaxation of attention, these findings suggest that blinking plays an important role in the perception of magic, and that magicians may utilize blinking and the relaxation of attention to hide certain secret actions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tamami Nakano
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Ekroll V, Sayim B, Van der Hallen R, Wagemans J. Illusory Visual Completion of an Object’s Invisible Backside Can Make Your Finger Feel Shorter. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1029-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Kuhn G, Rensink RA. The Vanishing Ball Illusion: A new perspective on the perception of dynamic events. Cognition 2016; 148:64-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Rensink RA, Kuhn G. The possibility of a science of magic. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1576. [PMID: 26528225 PMCID: PMC4607868 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald A Rensink
- Departments of Psychology and Computer Science, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gustav Kuhn
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London London, UK
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Lamont P. Problems with the mapping of magic tricks. Front Psychol 2015; 6:855. [PMID: 26157408 PMCID: PMC4477052 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lamont
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, UK
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Olson JA, Demacheva I, Raz A. Explanations of a magic trick across the life span. Front Psychol 2015; 6:219. [PMID: 25798117 PMCID: PMC4351568 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying how children and adults explain magic tricks can reveal developmental differences in cognition. We showed 167 children (aged 4–13 years) a video of a magician making a pen vanish and asked them to explain the trick. Although most tried to explain the secret, none of them correctly identified it. The younger children provided more supernatural interpretations and more often took the magician's actions at face value. Combined with a similar study of adults (N = 1008), we found that both young children and older adults were particularly overconfident in their explanations of the trick. Our methodology demonstrates the feasibility of using magic to study cognitive development across the life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Olson
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychiatry Department, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Irina Demacheva
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychiatry Department, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Amir Raz
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Psychiatry Department, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada
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Rissanen O, Pitkänen P, Juvonen A, Kuhn G, Hakkarainen K. Expertise among professional magicians: an interview study. Front Psychol 2014; 5:1484. [PMID: 25566156 PMCID: PMC4274899 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the present investigation was to analyse interviews of highly regarded Finnish magicians. Social network analysis (N = 120) was used to identify Finland's most highly regarded magicians (N = 16). The selected participants' careers in professional magic and various aspects of their professional conduct were examined by relying on semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that cultivation of professional level competence in magic usually requires an extensive period of time compared with other domains of expertise. Magic is a unique performing art and it differs from other professions focusing on deceiving the audience. A distinctive feature of magical expertise is that the process takes place entirely through informal training supported by communities of magical practitioners. Three interrelated aspects of magical activity were distinguished: magic tricks, performance, and audience. Although magic tricks constitute a central aspect of magic activity, the participants did not talk about their tricks extensively; this is in accordance with the secretive nature of magic culture. The interviews revealed that a core aspect of the magicians' activity is performance in front of an audience that repeatedly validates competence cultivated through years of practice. The interviewees reported investing a great deal of effort in planning, orchestrating, and reflecting on their performances. Close interaction with the audience plays an important role in most interviewees' activity. Many participants put a great deal of effort in developing novel magic tricks. It is common to borrow magic effects from fellow magicians and develop novel methods of implementation. Because magic tricks or programs are not copyrighted, many interviewees considered “stealing” an unacceptable and unethical aspect of magical activity. The interviewees highlighted the importance of personality and charisma in the successful pursuit of magic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Rissanen
- School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland Savonlinna, Finland
| | - Petteri Pitkänen
- School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland Savonlinna, Finland
| | - Antti Juvonen
- School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland Savonlinna, Finland
| | - Gustav Kuhn
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London London, UK
| | - Kai Hakkarainen
- Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki Helsinki, Finland
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