Paris, 1812. Louis Comte astonished his audience by pulling a rabbit from a hat. London, 1921. Illusionist PT Selbit sawed a woman in half. Magicians making history.

They do not like to tell their secrets. The Magic Circle expels members who let slip their methods.¹ But, psychologistsScientists who study the mind and behaviour. have discovered a link between magic and mental health.

A study at Aberystwyth University in Wales examined 195 magicians.² They were less anxious than average. And they had fewer distorted thoughts and hallucinations.

This is unusual for a creative group. Evidence shows mental health problems are more common among comedians, actors and writers.³ Researcher Gil Greengross says these results show the creative mind is "more complex than previously thought".⁴

So could doing magic make us happy?

Psychologist Lucy Foulkes warns against using medical terms like anxiety and depressionLow mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months. to talk about normal feelings of being happy and sad.⁵

And Greengross says magicians with mental difficulties may struggle with the demands of the trade. You need to be mentally healthy to succeed at magic.

But magician Sara Crasson believes magic has a positive impact.⁶ It helps young performers "overcome" a lack of social skills and build confidence. Paul Daniels suffered from low self-esteem in his early years.⁷

Writer and magic fan Peter Ormerod thinks the art of illusion is special because it unites a "sense of wonder" with a "firm grasp on reality".⁸ More than most, magicians know their limitations. But they play with our desire to believe and be deceived.

"Honest dishonesty," Ormerod calls it. And many magicians have tried to expose those who claim to have supernatural powers. The escape artist Harry Houdini debunked spirit mediumsPeople who claim to be able to communicate with the dead. .

Con artists use the same magic skills of misdirection and sleight of hand to make people unhappy. Neuroscientist Susana Martinez-Conde argues we laugh at magic because it feels threatening, but we know it is harmless.⁹

Is magic real? Mentalist Kieron Kirkland says magic exists in "someone's mind".¹⁰ A trick takes attention away from negative thoughts to focus on moments of wonder and joy. This makes Kirkland and his audience happy.

Yes: Everyone wants to believe in magic. As a magician, you get the satisfaction of making magic happen, just for a moment. It is a gift and a skill that comes from a deep understanding of reality.

No: Magic is all about deception. The audience gets to enjoy the illusion but it has no lasting meaning after the show. The magician knows how it is done and must repeat the trick night after night.

Or... Good mental health is not about being happy or sad. A magician has a strong sense of reality and the distinction between the possible and the impossible. A life skill more important than being happy.

Psychologists - Scientists who study the mind and behaviour.

Depression - Low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.

Mediums - People who claim to be able to communicate with the dead.