Are Psychics delusional?

[imagineNoReligion]

I know there probably isn't one single answer to this, but are astrologers, psychics and the like, fully aware of their deception?

Is there a hidden part of John Edwards or Geller or Sylvia Browne that is fully aware that they are perpetuating a lie? And if that is so, how can such a person continue to live with themselves if they know that to be true? I know personally that I couldn't. It would eat me alive until I would have to confide in someone. If this is the case, what is it that allows these people to function year after year in a lie, whereas I could not?

The other possibility is that some of these people are delusional. That they actually believe it. Would this be a form of mental illness where they actually hear and respond to the voices in their head? I dated a girl once who told me about the great wonders of her psychic powers, but would respond with anger and violence if I even questioned or asked for proof of those powers. I think she actually believed she had those powers, but the act of questioning that ability caused her to consider reality and resulted in angry emotional outbursts.

Anyway what do you think? I find it difficult to decipher exactly what is going on in Mr. Edwards head, on the surface he seems a reasonable individual. Therein lies his power.

 

[Ducky]

Anyway what do you think? I find it difficult to decipher exactly what is going on in Mr. Edwards head, on the surface he seems a reasonable individual. Therein lies his power.

If opening up his skull and examining the grey matter is required to know what goes on in his head, I volunteer to help get to the bottom of this mystery.

I agree about the possibility of self delusion. I also know people that fiercely and rather rudely argue any reasoning they can to defend their "powers."

It's kind of sad.

 

[Dredred]

This is how I see it:
People who believe they are psychic, believe they can have psychic perceptions by listening to their intuition. But your intuition is very hard to distinguish from your imagination. When psychics try to demonstrate their powers, and they notice their intuition/imagination is failing them, they might feel justified to lie and cheat in order to convince others of what they still believe to be real (their psychic powers). Of course, when there's money and praise involved, it gets even harder to be honest, to yourself as well as others.
So I think lots of supposed psychics can fool themselves that way. But of course there also are real frauds. I have no idea what's going on in John Edward's head, about all i know about him is what I saw in a very funny South Park episode.

 

[Jeff Corey]

Until he got rich, he used to live a couple of miles from me and I knew some people who were conned by him over ten years ago. I also watched him work a crowd at a book signing in town.
In my opinion, he is a conscious fraud.

 

[Bronze Dog]

My two cents: Varies with the psychic. Some are just delusional in the mildest sense, like dowsers who just don't know about ideomotor and proper blinding. Some are delusional to the point of needing a straitjacket and padded room. Others aren't delusional at all, and commit fraud. Some frauds, however, are delusional, and consciously cheat when their "powers" seem to be slowing down, believing it to be an acceptable means to getting people to believe in their alleged abilities.

My opinion of Edward, Browne, and Geller: Conscious frauds. If they aren't, then they are true masters of double-think.

 

[H3LL]

I don't see it any different from politicians or most other convinced proponents of an idea.

Business people struggle through to the end when it is obvious from all the evidence it's going down the toilet.

Families cling to hope when evidence is showing there is none.

The list goes on and on.

I think you have struck an interesting point that in all walks of life people turn away from evidence, however compelling, and cling to hope/delusion.

Maybe this is one area where the JREF and our ilk fail as we offer only evidence whereas it is obvious that few respond to it.

But what else do we have?

 

[Jeff Corey]

I don't see it any different from politicians or most other convinced proponents of an idea.

Business people struggle through to the end when it is obvious from all the evidence it's going down the toilet.

Families cling to hope when evidence is showing there is none.

The list goes on and on.

I think you have struck an interesting point that in all walks of life people turn away from evidence, however compelling, and cling to hope/delusion.

Maybe this is one area where the JREF and our ilk fail as we offer only evidence whereas it is obvious that few respond to it.

But what else do we have?

I don't know. but I'm open for suggestions.

 

[chillzero]

I think you have struck an interesting point that in all walks of life people turn away from evidence, however compelling, and cling to hope/delusion.

Maybe this is one area where the JREF and our ilk fail as we offer only evidence whereas it is obvious that few respond to it.

But what else do we have?

I would like to point out that the JRef and this forum and so on do not always fail in this. I am testimony to the value that a good website, and a forum that values debate and knowledge can change a person's life.

I've told my story in a couple of other threads, but to summarise for any that have missed it-
I used to believe I was psychic, sensitive, whatever the latest term was at the time. I used to believe in ghosts, spirits and the ability to influence your own world by various mystical means. I read tarot, and followed some other stray trains of thought that I have now rejected.

I was directed to this website by a challenger of my beliefs, and found a way to formulate all the doubts and thoughts that had been running through my life for months, and managed to clarify a few things. I am happier to understand things better that originally seemed so mysterious, and to base my beliefs on a firmer foundation of facts, than airy ideas and faith.

Never think this work is all done in vain, or that you fail. I sorted my life out, and I have been better able to raise my wonderfully sceptical daughter as a result. I know I am not the only one to find benefit here.