Do you believe in magicians and magic? Magic tricks or illusions often make us wonder: How did they do that? The truth is that the “magician” did nothing more than deceive your brain. And he didn’t have a hard time because your brain is a liar.
In the following video posted on YouTube, magician David Kwong and author of the book Spellbound reveals the “7 Principles of Illusion.” These are the principles that turn a simple gesture into a magic trick:
Mind the gap: Your brain creates shortcuts and makes assumptions to help process the incomplete visual data it receives.
Write the script: Magicians want you to believe you are seeing, so they will give you specific verbal information or a script that you have to fill in certain gaps. It is mental manipulation at its best.
Load up: The trick you see is the result of a preparation done by the magician. It is like sitting down to a wonderful meal at a restaurant and forgetting how much time and effort went into its construction.
Free choice design: Magicians often make you feel like you have options, when in reality you only have one possible choice. If you feel like you are in control, you will fall deeper into the illusion.
Engage with the familiar: Magicians play on your brain's need to detect patterns. If a magician only presents you with a few cards from a deck, your brain will fill in the blanks and assume the deck is complete.
Back Up: Magicians always have a backup plan – or three or four of them. They are prepared for anything, say an unusual choice, and have planned secondary illusions to compensate for the surprise. You will never fool a magician. If you think you can, you have already lost.
Check the frame: Like a director or a photographer, magicians know how to draw your attention exactly where they want you to look. You will always look at what they want you to look at, because your brain can’t help it.
Illusions may not be magic, but they can easily fool your brain.
Watch the video from the Wired channel:
