Can magic make us happy? A new study shows illusionists are less prone to mental health difficulties. Psychologists want to learn their tricks to unlock the secrets of happiness.
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Top tip for mental health: become a magician
Can magic make us happy? A new study shows illusionists are less prone to mental health difficulties. Psychologists want to learn their tricks to unlock the secrets of happiness.
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In 1812, Louis Comte pulled a rabbit from a hat. In 1921, the illusionistSomebody who performs tricks that make it seem like impossible things are happening. 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.
The study examined 195 magicians.2 They were less anxious than average. And they had fewer distortedTwisted out of shape. thoughts and hallucinations.
This is unusual. Evidence shows mental health problems are more common in creative people.3
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.4
And researcher Gil Greengross says magicians with mental difficulties may struggle with the demands of the trade. You need to be mentally healthy to succeed.
But magician Sara Crasson believes it has a positive impact.5 It helps young performers "overcome" difficulties and build confidence.
Writer Peter Ormerod thinks the art of illusion is special because it unites a "sense of wonder" with a "firm grasp on reality".6 Magicians know their limitations. And 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 to make people unhappy. NeuroscientistNeuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system. There is a lot of overlap between neuroscience and psychology, but neuroscientists tend to focus more on the way that nerves function. Susana Martinez-Conde argues we laugh at magic because it feels threatening, but we know it is harmless.7
Is magic real? Mentalist Kieron Kirkland says magic exists in our minds.8 A trick takes attention away from negative thoughts to focus on moments of wonder and joy. This makes Kirkland and his audience happy.
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Can magic make us 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.
Keywords
Illusionist - Somebody who performs tricks that make it seem like impossible things are happening.
Psychologists - Scientists who study the mind and behaviour.
Distorted - Twisted out of shape.
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.
Neuroscientist - Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system. There is a lot of overlap between neuroscience and psychology, but neuroscientists tend to focus more on the way that nerves function.
Top tip for mental health: become a magician
Sleight of hand: Magicians are one of the rare groups that are both creators and performers. Glossary
Illusionist - Somebody who performs tricks that make it seem like impossible things are happening.
Psychologists - Scientists who study the mind and behaviour.
Distorted - Twisted out of shape.
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.
Neuroscientist - Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system. There is a lot of overlap between neuroscience and psychology, but neuroscientists tend to focus more on the way that nerves function.