Are psychics real or fake? This is a documentary that attempts to answer that question. Are some of us born with mystical powers to move objects at will, read a person’s mind, or even heal physical ailments with the power of the mind? Follow magician James Randi as he uncovers the mysteries of spiritism.
Can psychology predict the future? A lot of people seem to think so. Others argue that, in most cases, so-called mental experiences are actually misinterpretations of events. In this episode of NOVA, magician and staunch skeptic James Randy challenges viewers to weigh the evidence for and against the existence of psychological phenomena.
Randy believes that successful psychics depend on their audience’s willingness to believe that what they see is the result of psychic powers. The program highlights some of the methods and processes he used to investigate psychic claims. Randy uses his expertise in creating deceptions and illusions to challenge the claims of some psychics by replicating their accomplishments and “feats” or using the scientific method.
His goal was to eliminate all possible alternative explanations for psychological phenomena. He’s also looking for evidence that they’re not just random. His arguments can inspire your class to discuss the difference between psychological manifestations and legitimate cases of unexplained phenomena.
