Mentalism and Body Language: How Reading Body Language is an Important Component of Mentalism

If you've ever seen a mentalism show or watched a mentalist on TV, you may have wondered how the performer knew so much about individuals in the audience without meeting them before. Successful mentalists know that accurately reading their audience through body language contributes to a unique and individualized experience. 

You may be wondering how mentalists use body language to produce accurate readings and really wow their audience.

In this blog, our virtual and in-personal mentalist, David Jaison of David Jaison Mentalist Beyond Belief, will discuss:

• The relationship between mentalism and body language 

• How mentalists use body language and apply it to their performances

• Top body language signals 

• The importance of using observation skills

Table of Contents:

1. Mentalism and Body Language: Understanding the Relationship 

2. Common Body Language Signals 

3. The Face

4. The Arms and Legs 

5. Body Posture 

6. The Importance of Observation Skills 

7. Conclusion 

People Also Ask: 

What is mentalism?

One component of Mentalism involves using a keenly developed understanding of body language and human psychology to influence others and provide an individualized psychological experience. Understanding human psychology and behavior enables a mentalist to anticipate how one may react and respond to controlled stimulus. .   

Is mentalism a trick?

While many in the performance industry are of the opinion that mentalism is magic, a mentalism performance does not include grand stage illusions or traditional magic tricks. 

Mentalism and Body Language: Understanding the Relationship 

Body language is how we perceive other people. It is also used to develop nonverbal communication and is considered subconscious and unconscious in action. 

Despite having modern languages to communicate with, our body language will control parts of a conversation we aren’t speaking verbally. Body language can be a very useful tool in certain instances, like performing mentalism.

Mentalists must utilize their heightened observation skills and read body language as they interact with individuals and their audience as a whole. Observation skills combined with a knowledge of body language allow mentalists to understand spectators' reactions to the information they provide and adjust as necessary.

Heightened body language and observation skills allow mentalists to create individualized performances customized to the audience and event, such as:

• Cold readings

• Information deductions & suggestions

• Foresight

• Clairvoyance

• Telepathy

• Hypnosis (optional) 

• Telekinesis

Common Body Language Signals 

Body language isn’t just about what reactions people show with their eyes and faces. Body language makes up the entire individual experience. 

This includes body:

• Posture

• Position

• Stance

• Gestures

• Facial expressions

Telltale signs of what an individual is thinking through body language can even include subtle muscle and extremity ticks. Continue reading below to discover the most common body language signals individuals can give off during a mentalism show. 

The Face

Of course, the face does tell a lot about what a person is feeling and thinking. Even minor facial muscle movements provide a wealth of information about individual reactions to a conversation or performance. 

Eyes: Many say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and for a good reason. The eyes are perhaps one of the most expressive facial features, giving away thoughts and feelings that a person may not necessarily realize. The eyes can also be used intentionally, whether through a gaze or where the individual looks. 

Common eye gestures and what they often mean:

• Down left: a person is thinking to themselves 

• Down right: emotional recollection of a past memory

• Sideways left: sound recollection of a past memory 

• Sideways right: possibly making something up 

• Up left: visual recollection of a memory 

• Up right: possible making something up visually 

Mouth: The mouth consists of many small muscles that easily give away an individual’s reaction. Reading body language allows a skilled mentalist to pick up on lip and mouth cues that may reveal a person's state of mind. 

Common mouth and lip gestures and what they often mean:

• A person covers their mouth to hide a reaction 

• An individual bites their lip because they may be concerned or anxious 

• The corners of the mouth lift upwards to indicate a happy or positive reaction 

• The corners of the mouth downturn to possibly indicate an unhappy or negative reaction 

• The thinning of the lips signifies that an individual disapproves of or does not trust a current situation 

The Arms and Legs 

When having a face-to-face conversation, your arms and legs can tell the other person about your reactions and how you’re feeling. Think about what you do with your hands, arms, and legs within day-to-day conversations with other people. 

• Arm and hand gestures can be used to emphasize points in a conversation.

• If you touch another person’s arm, it can signify affection.

• When you fidget with your fingers or clasp your hands, you may feel uncomfortable. 

• Crossing your arms or legs could mean you’re anxious or bored. 

Body Posture 

Aside from the eyes, body posture is perhaps one of the most obvious ways others can tell how you are feeling. Mentalists experienced in reading body language can quickly identify how an audience member reacts to a performance. 

Open and closed body posture can indicate whether a mentalist is on the right track with cold reading, information gathering, and other performances. 

The Importance of Observation Skills 

For mentalists, being able to read body language while also applying acute observation skills help them notice and identify audience reactions. Mentalists can use this information to adjust their performances accordingly. 

Without keen observation skills, telltale signs of distress or anxiousness can go unnoticed. For this reason and many others, a mentalist needs to use their knowledge of body language and observation skills to create an experience that is customized, fun, safe, and respectful. 

Conclusion

A professional mentalist may have many skills at their disposal. Having sharp observation skills and knowing how to read body language will be the abilities that set them apart from the many other performers.

Now that you have a basic understanding of a mentalist's special abilities, you can begin your search for a skilled mentalist with confidence. Virtual and in-person mentalism shows offer a unique experience for any event. 

Experiences such as David Jaison’s Mentalism Beyond Belief provide a personal and intimate performance like no other that offers something for everyone! 

Contact David Jaison and our team through our online booking system or email for more information. We look forward to connecting with you! 

Is performance art mentalism what is mentalism is performance art mentalism what is mentalism is performance art mentalism what is mentalism mentalists mind reading mentalist magic tricks. Magic tricks magic magicians mentalists what is mentalism magician psychokinesis mediumship spoon bending mind reader cold-reading psychics psychic abilites james randi mentalism derren brown reading extra-sensory perception telepathy cold reading thought thoughts minds mind psychology esp perceptions second sight magic trick entertainers entertainment psychic wizards misdirection sorcery magick mentalism clairvoyance art dream imagination hellstromism math penn and teller habit body language card tricks awareness koran prediction debate human divination coin magic vaudeville genius gian lorenzo bernini definitions definition sign language the brain improvisation miracles human psyche trickery illustration the mentalist explanation mentalists mind reading mentalist magic tricks magic magicians magician psychokinesis mediumship tricks spoon bending mind reader cold-reading psychics psychic abilites james randi derren brown reading extra-sensory perception telepathy cold reading thought thoughts minds mind psychology esp perceptions second sight magic trick entertainers psychic entertainment wizards misdirection sorcery magick clairvoyance art dream imagination hellstromism math penn and teller habit body language card tricks awareness koran prediction debate human divination coin magic vaudeville genius gian lorenzo bernini definitions definition sign language the brain improvisation miracles human psyche trickery mentalist magic tricks mentalists mental audience magician card world think skills art know show science magicians body best perform performance article abilities theory is mentalism philosophy effects thinking sleight of hand believe hypnosis performing reality entertainment power supernatural effect powers.

What Is Mentalism