cold reading

Cold reading is a technique used by individuals, often performers or psychic readers, to make educated guesses about a person without prior knowledge. They observe cues such as body language, appearance, and reactions, then use these observations to craft statements that seem personalized. By making general statements that can apply broadly and adjusting based on feedback, they create the illusion of knowing specific details. Cold reading relies on psychology and perception rather than supernatural abilities, creating an impression of insight or intuition.