Cold reading意思

"Cold reading" is a technique used by some psychics, fortune tellers, and mentalists to give the appearance of being able to know personal information about someone without having prior knowledge about them. The term "cold reading" comes from the fact that it is done without any "warm-up" or prior research on the subject.

The technique involves using a combination of psychological cues, general observations, and good guesswork to lead a conversation in a way that allows the practitioner to appear to know specific details about the person being read. Cold readers often use broad statements, psychological ploys, and the technique of asking questions in such a way that the answers lead to specific information that can be used to make it seem as if they have special knowledge.

Here are some common techniques used in cold reading:

  1. Fishing: Asking questions that allow the reader to narrow down the range of possible answers until they hit on a correct one.

  2. Ambiguous Statements: Making statements that are so general that they can apply to almost anyone.

  3. Reflection: Repeating back to the subject what they have already said, making it seem as if the reader has psychic insight.

  4. Filling in Blanks: Offering a range of possibilities and allowing the subject to select the one that applies, giving the impression that the reader is correct.

  5. Hot Reading: Occasionally, a cold reader might do some quick and covert research on the subject, which is called "hot reading," but this is not the same as cold reading in the traditional sense.

Cold reading is often used in performances, such as stage shows or at parties, where the goal is to entertain rather than to deceive. However, it can also be used in more deceptive contexts, such as when someone claims to have genuine psychic abilities. In such cases, it's important to be aware that the techniques of cold reading can create an illusion of psychic power without any paranormal abilities being involved.