Can magic make us happy? A new study shows magicians are less prone to mental health difficulties.
Top tip for mental health: become a magician
Can magic make us happy? A new study shows magicians are less prone to mental health difficulties.
What's happening?
In 1812, Louis Comte pulled a rabbit from a hat. It was a big moment in the history of magic.
Magicians do not like to tell their secrets. But now scientists have found a possible link between magic and mental health.
Scientists at a universityWhen people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree. in WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is part of the island of Great Britain. studied 195 magicians. They were less anxiousWorried. than average. Fewer of them had certain mental health issues.
This is unusual. Scientists know that mental health problems are more common in creative people.3
So could doing magic make us happy?
Find out more
PsychologistSomeone who studies the mind, emotions and behaviour. Lucy Foulkes warns against using medical words like anxietyA feeling of unease or worry. It can be mild or very severe. 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
But magician Sara Crasson believes it has a positive impact. It helps young performers "overcome" difficulties and build confidence.
Writer Peter Ormerod thinks magic is special because it includes both a "sense of wonder" and a "firm grasp on reality".6 Magicians know what they can and cannot do.
"Is magic real? Magician Kieron Kirkland says magic exists in our minds. A trick takes attention away from bad thoughts to focus on moments of wonder and joy. This makes Kirkland and his audience happy.
Can magic make us happy?
Yes! Everyone wants to believe in magic. Magicians have a gift and a skill that comes from an understanding of reality, and they make other people happy.
No! Magic is all about tricking people. The audience enjoys it for half an hour, but it has no effect after the show. And magicians have to repeat the same tricks over and over again.
Keywords
University - When people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree.
Wales - Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is part of the island of Great Britain.
Anxious - Worried.
Psychologist - Someone who studies the mind, emotions and behaviour.
Anxiety - A feeling of unease or worry. It can be mild or very severe.
Depression - Low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.
Top tip for mental health: become a magician
Glossary
University - When people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree.
Wales - Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is part of the island of Great Britain.
Anxious - Worried.
Psychologist - Someone who studies the mind, emotions and behaviour.
Anxiety - A feeling of unease or worry. It can be mild or very severe.
Depression - Low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.