In parapsychology, a Mentalist, as opposed to a psychic, is defined as someone who is believed not only to be able to read information mentally, but also to alter that information. Parapsychology is the study of the evidence of mental awareness or influence of external objects without interaction from known physical means. ... A psychic is a person who claims or who is believed to possess extra-sensory abilities, including: Clairvoyance, Psychometry and Precognition. ...

The ability of the originator to impose a base brain function (smell, taste, digestion, emotions, hunger, fatigue) on a recipient. The recipient will interpret the response as their own. The brain region responsible for the emotions and senses is the amygdala.

While a psychic may claim to observe an underlying spiritual reality and report on it, in a process known as a "psychic reading," a mentalist, by contrast, might claim the ability to manipulate that reality in order to create a different manifestation.

Stagecraft

The term "mentalist" also refers to "psychic" entertainers whose illusions feature the apparent ability to read minds, foretell the future, and see distant and hidden objects. This branch of magic is referred to as "mentalism". Mentalism is an ancient performing art in which the practitioner uses mental acuity, principles of stage magic and/or suggestion to present the demonstration or illusion of mind reading, psychokinesis, precognition, clairvoyance or mind control. ...

To be mental

"Mentalist" is used as a derogatory term for someone who is "mental" or mad.

It was first featured in an episode of Steve Coogan's, I'm Alan Partridge. An extra layer of irony was added to the term when it was used repeatedly in the UK BBC hit The Office, parodying the tendency in office environments for workers to parrot popular comedy sketches and catchphrases. Steve Coogan (born 14 October 1965 in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England) is an English actor and comedian. ... Alan Partridge: Every Ruddy Word cover Im Alan Partridge is a British sitcom. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, sometimes also known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, founded in 1922. ... The main cast of the American version of The Office. ...

This definition of the word "Mentalist" is now recognised in the Oxford English Dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary print set The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP). ...

External link

• [Mentalist]