Hot reading is a technique in which a psychic, medium, or mentalist gathers detailed information about a subject in advance of a reading — through background research, planted associates, overheard conversations, or covert communication — and then presents that information during the reading as though it were being perceived psychically. It is distinguished from cold reading, which produces a similar impression of insight using only in-session inference and generalised statements, without any prior information about the specific subject.[1]
Techniques
Background research
Performers or their associates may research a subject in advance using public records, obituaries, social media profiles, and other openly available sources, allowing specific names, relationships, and life events to be presented during a reading as though independently perceived.
Plants and informants
Some documented cases involve associates ("shills" or plants) positioned among an audience or waiting line, who engage attendees in casual conversation beforehand and relay overheard personal details back to the performer.
Covert communication
The most famous documented hot reading method involves concealed radio receivers, allowing a performer to be fed information covertly during a live performance.
The Peter Popoff case
The best-documented example of hot reading is the 1986 exposure of American televangelist Peter Popoff by magician and skeptic James Randi. Popoff claimed to receive the names and ailments of audience members directly from God during his healing services. Randi and an associate intercepted radio transmissions showing Popoff was in fact receiving this information via a concealed earpiece, fed live by his wife backstage reading from "prayer cards" that attendees had filled out before the event began.
Relationship to other subjects on The Vault
Hot reading is frequently discussed alongside cold reading as one of two principal sceptical explanations for apparently accurate psychic and mediumship readings. Investigator Susan Gerbic has argued that Tyler Henry's on-camera readings show traits consistent with both cold and hot reading technique rather than genuine mediumship.
See also
References
- ↑ "Cold Reading."Psi Encyclopedia.