Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Angelo Stagnaro's
COLD READING
"Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next." - Dr. Jonas Salk
The "P. T. Barnum Effect." Cold reading is very sim le and is easily learned !y mos" eo le# Ho$ever% on&e learned% i" re'(ires ra&"i&e# T)e *ollo$ing s(gges"ions are "a+en dire&"ly *rom Ray Hyman,s &lassi& !oo+% "The Elusive Quarry: A Scientific Appraisal f !sychical Research"" T)ese are ")e "e&)ni'(es - sy&)i&s- )ave !een *o(nd "o (se "o genera"e $)a" seems li+e aranormal e**e&"s# .sy&)ologis"s )ave iden"i*ied ")ese "e&)ni'(es as ")e -.# T# /arn(m E**e&"- or ")e -Forer E**e&"#- Des i"e $)a" mos" eo le $ill &laim% .# T# /arn(m did no" say -a s(&+er is !orn every min("e")o(g)% I,m s(re% )e *irmly !elieved i"# T)e e0 ression $as a&"(ally &oined !y )is &om e"i"or% a !an+er named David Hann(m% o$ner and er e"ra"or o* ")e *a+ed Cardi** Gian" -Fossil#.sy&)ologis" .a(l Mee)l% &oined ")e "erm -/arn(m E**e&"- d(e "o ")e *amed s)o$man,s re ("a"ion as a *lim*lam ar"is"# .# T# /arn(m is mos" o*"en asso&ia"ed $i") &ir&(s sides)o$s !(" )e also $or+ed very )ard a" develo ing - sy&)i&s- *rom ordinary eo le $)o% ")o(g) "alen"ed% )ad a!sol("ely no re"erna"(ral s+ills# .# T# /arn(m $as *irs" and *oremos" a !(siness man and $o(ld no" le" a lie% or a series o* ")em% ge" in ")e $ay o* a ro*i"# Li+e many o")er eo le in similar &ir&(ms"an&es% )e $as an e0 er" in )(man rela"ions and mar+e"ing# He +ne$ $)a" mo"iva"ed )(mani"y and )o$ "o mani (la"e ")em *or )is o$n (r oses# In +ee ing $i") ")is )iloso )y% I )ave rod(&ed an analysis )erein o* ")e rin&i les o* ")e .# T# /arn(m E**e&"#
ntroduction The Appeal of Mentalism Paranormal Research A Philosoph! of Mentalism A Rose "! An! #ther $ame Ethics & %a&eats Augmenting a %old Reading 'ith a (ot Reading Predicting the Future %old Reading The "P T Barnum Effect" )h! it )or*s+ The Theor! Behind %old Reading Practicing %old Reading An ntroduction to Bod! ,anguage (ands-Arms .ha*ing (ands E!es Posture & .tance Gait .eated Position Miscellaneous /oice & nflection Reading People %oldar 0e&eloping an ntuiti&e .ense 0educti&e Reasoning #ur (appiness & Goals in ,ife %ultural Anthropolog! Generali1ations Based on Age Basic .imilarities in #ur ,i&es %onclusion Muscle Reading E2ui&o2ue %asual #"ser&ations ntuition %ontact Mind Reading %ultural Anthropolog! Generali1ations Based on Gender & Age Medical #"ser&ations %harm Ps!cholog! Forces Ethics & %a&eats
Ta#le f C ntents
kinesics 1 : the psychological science that deals with the movements of the human body and their interpretations as to interior and subse uently hidden motives and emotional states
/OD3 LANGUAGE
"A thousand words will not leave so dee an im ression as one deed." - Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegi n !oet nd !l "wright
I* sy&)i& o$ers "r(ly e0is"ed% as some $o(ld (r or"% ")ere $o(ld !e no need *or a !oo+ li+e ")is# As men"alis"s% $e,re &on"in(ally &)allenged "o delve in"o s e&"a"ors, riva"e selves# One $ay in $)i&) ")e riva"e sel* is already s"anding ( and s&reaming "o !e no"i&ed is ")ro(g) !ody lang(age# In*orma"ion derived *rom !ody lang(age is &om le"ely *air game as *ar as I am &on&erned and i" $o(ld !e !ene*i&ial *or (s "o learn "o re&ogni4e ")ese !ody signals# I )o e ")a" a*"er yo( read ")is !oo+ and diges" i"% yo(,ll see ")a" everyone% $i") only some minor e0&e "ions% &an learn "o read ")e "ell5"ale signs o* $)a" is going on inside o(r s e&"a"ors, )eads# Ho$ many "imes )ave $e !een in a dis&(ssion $i") someone $)o agrees "o yo(r re'(es" !(" $ill s"and &rossed5 armed and "ense $)ile )e s ea+s "o yo(6 Or $)o% al"erna"ively% $ill smile gra"(i"o(sly and a&" agreea!ly !(" s"ill gives yo( ")e im ression ")a" )e )as a!sol("ely no in"en"ion $)a"soever o* *(l*illing )is romise "o yo(6 /ody lang(age is des&ri!ed !y sy&)ologis"s as a lang(age o* signals# T)ese s&ien"is"s !elieve ")a" $e (n&ons&io(sly e0 ress o(r *eelings and ")o(g)"s in ges"(res% movemen"s% as e&"s and a""i"(des# All o* $)i&) &an !e ("ili4ed !y men"alis"s# 7inesi&s% ")e s"(dy o* !ody movemen"s and ")eir in"er re"a"ion% s(gges"s ")a" a ro0ima"ely nine"y5 er&en" o* ")e "o"al in*orma"ion given o** !y an individ(al is &onveyed ")ro(g) !ody lang(age% "one o* voi&e% *a&ial e0 ressions% s"an&e% gai"% ges"(res and ( il dila"ion# S"(dying ")ese largely (n&ons&io(s !e)aviors reveal er"inen" in*orma"ion a!o(" a erson,s inner ")o(g)"s and emo"ions# In"er re"ing !ody lang(age involves more ")an sim ly seeing a single !ody mo"ion and giving a a" e0 lana"ion *or i"s e0is"en&e# T)is ")in+ing &o(ld lead yo( in"o mis"a+es# Ins"ead% yo( need "o in"er re" ")e en"ire ges"al"# E0amine ")e s e&"a"or,s gai" and )is demeanor# Loo+ a" ")e s"yle% *i" and &ondi"ion o* )is &lo")es# 8)a" does ")e &ondi"ion and a earan&e o* )is )ands s(gges" "o yo(6 8)a" does yo(r in"(i"ion "ell yo( a!o(" ")is erson6 Loo+ in"o ")e s e&"a"or,s eyes# 8)a" do )is eyes reveal a!o(" )is ersonali"y6 Is ")e erson relieved% )a y or angry6 Does )e )ave a s ar+ o* in"elligen&e or is )e (nå6 Are )is eyes "ired and !loods)o" s(gges"ing a re&en" nig)" o(" on ")e "o$n6 Does )e )ave a gla4ed5over loo+ s(gges"ing ")a" )e mig)" !e on medi&a"ion6 M(&) o* $)a" I,ve $ri""en )ere is &ommon sense# Angry loo+s s(gges" anger and nervo(s 9i""ering s(gges" nervo(sness# I o**er ")is insig)" in"o )(man !e)avior "o )el yo( develo a sensi"ivi"y "o$ard eo le and a ")ea"ri&al res onse "o ")a" !e)avior "o )el develo yo(r re ("a"ion as a men"alis"# T)e movemen"s ")a" are des&ri!ed are divided in"o ")e *ollo$ing &a"egories# Ea&) $ill !e dis&(ssed in "(rn: (ands-Arms .ha*ing hands E!es Posture & .tance Gait .eated Position Miscellaneous /oice & nflection
B T $G #$E'. , P.
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T)is s(gges"s em!arrassmen" or a la&+ o* sel*5&on*iden&e# .eo le !i"e ")eir li s "o reven" s ea+ing ras) $ords# T)is &an also !e ")e rea&"ion o* someone &a(g)" (na$ares in an em!arrassing si"(a"ion $)ile ")in+ing o* some")ing "o say#
"You are a person who knows how to deal with people. Tactfulness is your best quality."
.M R6
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Smir+ing e0 resses sel*5 sa"is*a&"ion% resol("eness% mis&)ie* and ")e 9oy o* o!serving o")ers#
.TEEP,E0 F $GER.
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"You are a gifted leader. You enjoy commanding others and ha e the ability to make others follow you."
7;
T)is erson is &a("io(sly )o e*(l# T)is os"(re sym!oli4es de*ensiveness and emo"ional and so&ial !arriers#
"You are not a person who willingly puts all of his eggs into one basket."
;=
"You feel conflicted about a situation and feel guilty about a lie that is somehow in ol ed."
?@
"You find yourself ery lonely at times. !a ing others around you who are supporti e is ery important to you."
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.(A6 $G (A$0. 9F RM GR P:
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""ately you ha e found that people are not meeting your standards in terms of their beha ior."
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T)is $al+ s(gges"s vi"ali"y and *or&e*(lness $)i&) may or may no" a&"(ally !e resen"# Men $)o &on&en"ra"e on ")eir $al+ing and ")e $ay in $)i&) ")ey resen" ")emselves "o ")e $orld are a&"(ally no" "r(ly &on*iden" a" all# A "r(ly &on*iden" man moves only )is )i s# A se&re"ly (n&on*iden" man $ill move )is s)o(lders in an e0aggera"ed s$agger#
"#thers percei e you as confident and you generally can beha e that way but$ secretly$ you are worried that you might make a serious mistake from which you might not reco er."
8?
A &on*iden" $oman $ill $al+ $i") )er s)o(lders )eld ( rig)"# Her $al+ is gen"ly s$inging and "ensionless% rela0ed and &as(al $i") a dis&ree" s$ing o* ")e )i s#
"You are a person who is self%confident and is largely sure of her plans in life."
6 %6 $G BA%6
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S e&"a"ors $)o si" $i") ")eir )ands &las ed !e)ind ")eir )eads and ")eir legs &rossed are s( remely &on*iden"# T)ey mig)" s(**er *rom an e0aggera"ed sense o* sel*5 $or")#
"You are a confident and self%possessed person. &ith only minor e'ceptions$ you feel life has been generous to you."
5A?
T)is s e&"a"or=s !ody is ro"e&"ed *rom all -a""a&+s#- He or s)e is s"(!!orn% res"ri&"ed% s+e "i&al and disa roving# T)is erson is also s"rongly mo"iva"ed#
"You can be stubborn when you need to be." "You are a ery directed person."
>
intuition n 1 : uick and ready insight ! : the power or faculty of knowing things without conscious reasoning " intuitive adj " intuitivel# adv
READING !EO!LE
#rom dro! o$ w ter logi%i n %ould in$er the !ossibilit" o$ n &tl nti% or Ni g r without h 'ing seen or he rd o$ one or the other. - Sherlock $olmes% "A Stud# in Scarlet"
African
%lue A &(rved s&ar on a &)ee+ Small &ross "a""ooed on ")e rig)" )and
%lue Asian $)o s ea+s Fren&) or s ea+s $i") a Fren&) a&&en" Mi4 a)% me4(4o"% &)ai% S"ar o* David sym!ols /l(e evil eye enden" S"eel;Silver !ra&ele" on a man Reversed s$as"i+a A s li" &oin endan" -Om- sym!ol
%ulture ,ietnamese )"aotian are a less likely possibility+ -ewish$ .sraeli Turkish or Armenian Sikh /uddhist sigil -ewish ).t can also denote a romantic lo e interest.+ !indu
Hamsa endan" %lue Claddag) Rings Mal"ese Cross Red "$is"ed )orn endan" A ring or endan" $i") an ins&ri!ed Mal"ese Cross Germani&5loo+ing !(" s ea+s I"alian er*e&"ly Cel"i& Cross .erson s ea+s a lang(age reminis&en" o* I"alian and S anis) !(" is nei")er S(rname r)ymes $i") -ArmenianAn Or")odo0 &ross Cr(&i*i0 Rosary !eads or Rosary Ring %lue His ani& erson $)o s ea+s $i") an I"alian a&&en"
Southern 0editerranean cultures )principally Arab or -ewish+ %ulture .rish 0altese .talian 0altese )or a professional firefighter+ Tyrolean .rish 1umanian Armenian *astern *urope (rosses are worn by all (hristian denominations but crucifi'es are usually worn by 1oman (atholics. 1oman (atholic %ulture Argentinean
European
,#/E & R#MA$%E T)is &a"egory o* &on&erns is e0&l(sively ")ose o* a roman"i& na"(re# S e&i*i&ally% lovers% !oy;girl*riends% *ian&@es; *ian&@s and s o(ses# I* love is no" resen" in ")e s e&"a"or,s li*e% )e $ill !e &on&erned $i") $)en and )o$ i" $ill *inally ma+e i"s a earan&e# I* love is already resen"% ")en )is &on&erns $ill !e rimarily on main"aining i" des i"e ro!lems s(&) as in*ideli"y and diminis)ed in"eres";a**e&"ion# O")er ro!lems in&l(de 9ealo(sy% se0(al dys*(n&"ion% s(s i&ions% arg(men"s% ma+ing &)oi&es !e"$een ossi!le lovers% (n lanned regnan&y% (nre'(i"ed love% &areer;rela"ions)i &on*li&"s and ")e ossi!ili"y o* divor&e#
/ra2ilian
FAM ,B Con&erns a!o(" *amily are s e&i*i& "o ")e -Family o* Orien"a"ion#- .eo le% in general% all "oo *re'(en"ly disregard ")eir marriage vo$s# Divor&e is *re'(en"ly d(e "o a se0(al ro!lem or severe &on*li&" o* o inions# Money is ")e se&ond mos" li+ely &a(se# T)e ress(re "o rod(&e &)ildren in 8es"ern so&ie"y is very grea" es e&ially *or $omen o* a &er"ain age# Con*li&"s $i") a &areer add "o ")is ress(re# Family &on&erns (s(ally revolve aro(nd main"aining *amily &o)esion des i"e severe e0"ernal ro!lems# Al"erna"ively% ")e ro!lems ")a" res(l" *rom ")e aliena"ion o* *amily a**e&"ion# .aren"s% si!lings% in5la$s% &)ildren% grand&)ildren and o")er e0"ended *amily are all ossi!ly so(r&es o* &on*li&"# .aren"s and grand aren"s% (nders"anda!ly% $orry a!o(" ")eir &)ildren# I" is no" (n&ommon *or ")em "o $ear 9e$elry $i") m(l"i le &olored s"ones re resen"ing ")e !ir")mon") o* ea&) &)ild or grand&)ild# T)e "$o mos" im or"an" &on&erns in a $omen,s li*e are )er
&)ildren and )er love li*e% in ")a" order# Again% ")e &on&ern *or &)ildren mig)" very $ell !e ")e )o e*(l and even"(al an"i&i a"ion o* &)ildren and no" actual &)ildren#
M#$EB-%AREER .o$er and *ame are s(!s(med (nder ")is &a"egory# /e&a(se o* ")e s"r(&"(re o* 8es"ern so&ie"y% money is im or"an" and ne&essary "o live# /e&a(se o* ")e s"r(&"(re o* )(man so&ie"y and% in ar" "o o(r gene"i& ma+e( % men are ")e rin&i le !read5$inners in a *amily# T)o(g) $omen ma+e ( *i*"y5 er&en" o* ")e 8es"ern $orld,s $or+*or&e% ")ey are no" as &on&erned $i") ")e *(r")eran&e o* ")eir &areers as are men# 8omen are no$ !y *ar more inde enden" *inan&ially ")an ")ey $ere rior "o ")e se&ond )al* o* ")e "$en"ie") &en"(ry !("% des i"e ")is% i" is no" (n&ommon *or a $oman "o give ( )er &areer "o develo )er *amily and )ome li*e or "o a" leas" !e emo"ionally &on*li&"ed as "o $)e")er or no" "o do so# Money is ")e main goal o* mos" men# T)eir ro!lems are rin&i ally &a(sed !y a la&+ o* money# Men are *re'(en"ly im a"ien" in ")is regard# T)ey see+ o("% more o*"en ")an no"% immedia"e gra"i*i&a"ion# T)ey desire ")e ")ings ")a" money &an ro&(re
in&l(ding rogress% re&ogni"ion% res"ige% &om*or"% se&(ri"y% $eal")% *ame and )ysi&al ossessions#
(EA,T( Heal") is a dominan" &on&ern *or everyone# T)e s e&"a"or is &on&erned *or ei")er )is o$n )eal") or ")a" o* someone &lose "o )im# Consider yo(r s e&"a"or,s )ysi&al as e&"B does )e seem )eal")y6 A er&e "ive men"alis" &an even dis"ing(is) !e"$een sym "oms o* some
diseases and disorders Cpg. 34D I* ")e s e&"a"or is no" &on&erned a!o(" )is o$n )eal")% &)an&es are ")a" )e is &on&erned a!o(" someone in )is *amily% ro!a!ly )is aren"s# I* ")e s e&"a"or is as" a &er"ain age% )is aren"s are mos" ro!a!ly no" alive any longer and is ")ere*ore
&on&erned *or ")e )eal") o* )is &)ildren# Many eo le% and &er"ainly mos" $omen and ")e elderly% &om lain a!o(" ")eir )eal") $i") or $i")o(" &a(se# Ca"ering "o ")eir &on&erns% even i* &om le"ely del(sional% $ill )el yo( $i") yo(r er*orman&e#
Men
Men,s &on&erns are ar"ially de"ermined !y ")eir gene"i& na"(re and ar"ly !e&a(se o* ")e rig)"s and res onsi!ili"ies a**orded men in 8es"ern so&ie"y# Men are re'(ired !y so&ie"y "o )ave a 9o!% !e s(&&ess*(l in ")eir &areer% "o !e genero(s $i") ")eir earnings and "o rovide *or ")eir ar"ner and *amily# Am!i"io(sness is &er"ainly a male "rai" and so is a reo&&( a"ion $i") inde enden&e and *inan&ial &on&erns# Men are generally less &on&erned $i") ")eir o$n )eal")% !o") )ysi&al and emo"ional# Friends)i s are very im or"an" *or men# In many &ases% male *riends)i s are !y *ar more emo"ionally in"ense ")an are many marriages# Men are less emo"ionally demons"ra"ive ")an $omen even i* ")ey are *rom &(l"(res and *amily !a&+gro(nds ")a" romo"e emo"ional dis lays# Men $ill more '(i&+ly reveal ")eir "r(e emo"ional s"a"es and &on&erns "o ")eir male *riends !e*ore ")ey do so "o ")eir $ives and girl*riends# T)is $ill al$ays !e a&&om anied $i") an in"ernal s"r(ggle !e"$een ")e need "o relieve onesel* o* a se&re" and so&ie"y,s ress(res *or men "o remain s"oi&% s"rong% inde enden" and -manly#- T)is is eviden&ed !y ")e *a&" ")a" men rarely visi" )ysi&ians# Men (s(ally disregard ")eir )eal") (n"il i" is "oo la"e or nearly "oo la"e# None o* ")is is mean" "o s(gges" ")a" any ar"i&(lar s e&"a"or is some)o$ "ra ed in an (n)a y or (n*(l*illing marriage# I",s 9(s" ")e na"(re o* male !onding ")a" men &an &omm(ni&a"e !e""er $i") ea&) o")er ")an ")ey &an $i") $omen# T)e rin&i le &on&ern o* men is money and all o* i"s rami*i&a"ions# T)e se&ond mos" im or"an" &on&ern is love *ollo$ed !y *amily and *inally% )eal")# T)o(g) male an0ie"ies largely &en"er on *inan&ial &on&erns% men rarely see+ a*"er money *or i"s o$n sa+e# More o*"en ")an no"% money is desired !e&a(se i" re resen"s some")ing else in&l(ding &om*or"a!le living% &on'(es"% e0"ernal valida"ion% res"ige% man)ood% inde enden&e% s"a!ili"y% ")e a!ili"y "o s( or" a *amily% ma"erialism and se0# Men $ill seldom reveal ersonal $ea+nesses and $ill !e (n&om*or"a!le dis&(ssing ")eir ro!lems $i") o")ers# Men more easily &)ange ")e li*e &ondi"ions in $)i&) ")ey *ind ")emselves ")an do $omen# Men *orge" a as" mis"a+e more '(i&+ly and rarely !e&ome em!i""ered# Men re*er "o *orge a)ead ra")er ")an !e&ome mired in as" even"s#
8omen
8omen rin&i ally $an" love% a**e&"ion% &)ildren and a )ome# Having a&)ieved ")ese goals% ")ey *re'(en"ly $an" "o e0 and ")eir lives *inan&ially Ci#e#% a &areerD and;or in "erms o* ed(&a"ion# Mos" $omen &om lain a!o(" ")eir )eal") $)e")er *rom imaginary or real &a(ses# T)is is eviden&ed !y ")e *a&" ")a" mos" men sim ly don," visi" ")eir do&"ors (nless i" is an a!sol("e emergen&y $)ereas $omen ma+e ( ")e !(l+ o* any )ysi&ian,s a"ien"s# T)ey "r(s" ")eir in"(i"ion more o*"en ")en men in ")eir general li*e# T)ey are more "r(s"ing and g(lli!le ")an are men# More $omen !elieve in sy&)i& )enomenon ")an do men# T)is is ar"ly !e&a(se $omen are more &om*or"a!le $i") ")eir emo"ions% less se&(re and more a" ease see+ing o(" eo le in $)om ")ey &an &on*ide# 8omen "end "o d$ell on ")e as" more so ")an do men# Love% and all o* i"s erm("a"ions% is ")e rin&i le &on&ern o* $omen# T)e se&ond mos" im or"an" $o(ld !e *amily# T)e ")ird is )eal") and *inally money# Mos" love ro!lems in a $oman,s li*e in&l(de aliena"ion o* a**e&"ion% (nre'(i"ed love% )a"red% 9ealo(sy% in*ideli"y and !e"rayal# Heal") &on&erns in&l(de ")e s e&"a"or,s )eal") and ")a" o* signi*i&an" o")ers% )er &)ildren and )er aren"s# 8omen en9oy a more develo ed and e0er&ised emo"ional li*e ")an do men# T)ey &an $a0 *a"alis"i&ally# 8omen see+ o(" rela"ions)i s es e&ially marriage% more o*"en and more easily ")an do men# 8omen val(e love% &omm(ni&a"ion and rela"ions)i s# 8)e")er ")ey are mo")ers or no"% ")ey see+ o(" o or"(ni"ies "o a&" -ma"ernally- !y )el ing and n(r"(ring o")ers# T)eir sense o* sel* is de*ined !y ")e de ") o* ")eir emo"ions and ")e '(ali"y o* ")eir rela"ions)i s# T)ey are *(l*illed !y develo ing rela"ions)i s ")ro(g) s)aring and rela"ing ")eir *eelings# T)is is% in general% more im or"an" "o ")em ")an ersonal o$er and s(&&ess# 8omen see+ o(" )armony% &omm(ni"y% love and &oo era"ion# Tal+ing and rela"ing "o one ano")er is a so(r&e o* "remendo(s *(l*illmen"# 8omen see+ "o develo ")eir in"(i"ive side and li!erally involve ")emselves in o")ers eo le,s emo"ions# For $omen%
Fears
Loss o* ossessions% des"i"("ion% o$erlessness% loss o* a**e&"ion
Fears
H(s!ands;!oy*riend,s in*ideli"y
Fear o* no" +ee ing ( $i") o")er men Fear o* )aving "o rely on o")ers
8omen see+ inde enden&e !(" are *ear*(l o* ")e ro!lems ")a" *reedom may rod(&e Gealo(sly &on&erned ")a" o")ers $ill a""ain more ")en ")ey $ill
1H
Se0(al &on'(es"
Family li*e
Primar! Ph!sicalit!+
11
0etermination s
Primar! Ph!sicalit!+
Face General Aspect Bod! Beha&ior .tance Gesticulations Gait (ealth
.econdar! #"ser&ations+
%lothing .igns & .!m"ols
De'elr!
,anguage
Grooming
nflection
/oice
Tertiar! #"ser&ations+