cold reader
Fake mentalist's method
A cold reader is someone skilled at extracting information from strangers through observation, inference, and leading questions—then presenting those insights as if derived from psychic ability or supernatural perception.
The technique relies on reading body language, making educated guesses, and letting subjects fill in details: The medium was just a skilled cold reader picking up on cues.
Cold reading is associated with fortune tellers, mentalists, and fraudulent psychics, though some performers use it openly as entertainment.
- psychicOne claiming supernatural perception
- mentalistSupposed thought reader
- fortune tellerOne who predicts futures
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- body languageUnspoken physical expression
verbal cues · nonverbal signals · intuition · showman · séance · crystal ball · audience · guess · manipulation · cues · tells · horoscope · medium · con artist · vague · fishing · suggestion · performance
- Mentalistsmentalist, psychic, clairvoyant, remote viewer, hypnotist
- psychicspsychic, psychics, fortune teller, clairvoyant, clairvoyants
- mediumsoil paint, watercolor, acrylic, tempera, pastel