| Many people greatly desire to speak with their loved | | | | paranormal TV shows are scoring high ratings. If so |
| ones who have passed. Others want to know more | | | | many people believe in the phenomena, doesn't it have |
| about their destiny in love, travel, money, or | | | | to be true? |
| relationships. For many, this is an unreachable dream, | | | | No, argue some skeptics. They claim that so-called |
| as the boundaries of the past and future are off limits | | | | psychics use techniques based on human psychology |
| - we can only live in the present. Or so we think. | | | | and demographics to trick their marks into believe in |
| Some people, called psychics, claim to have these | | | | their alleged power. For example, skeptics claim that |
| very abilities. They believe they can break the barriers | | | | psychics use "cold reading" techniques, making general |
| between the past and the future, the living and the | | | | claims to the mark based on their age, race, class, and |
| dead. And people pay good money for their services, | | | | other factors. Because the mark wants so |
| in return receiving great comfort and direction. Skeptics, | | | | desperately to believe, they fill in the details themselves |
| however, believe these people are ripping off | | | | based on these generalities - what is really true for |
| desperate people, playing on their fears and desires to | | | | just about anybody is thereby transformed into |
| make a quick buck. In this article, we try to cut through | | | | something true specifically for them. In addition, the |
| the truth and the lies to determine whether or not | | | | mark forgets all the "misses" in favor of the hits. This |
| psychics are real or just a hoax. | | | | "file drawer" effect hides the true inaccuracy of the |
| The psychics have the people on their side: a recent | | | | psychics' statements. |
| poll revealed that 41% of Americans believed in ESP. | | | | In the end, the battle still rages between believers and |
| The paranormal and psychic business is booming - | | | | skeptics. All we can do is evaluate all the facts and |
| psychics are still in demand (especially with the rise of | | | | come to our own conclusions. |
| the Internet), horoscopes are still popular, and | | | | |