The Science of Magic.  Why smart people are easily deceived

Talk by Professor Gustav Kuhn, Director of the MAGIC-lab at the University of Plymouth

Magic offers a unique window into the human mind. In this talk, Gustav Kuhn will take audiences behind the curtain to explore the psychology that makes magic possible, revealing how magicians exploit the hidden workings of perception, attention, memory, and decision-making.

Drawing on his research into the science of magic, Gustav will examine why our visual experiences are not as reliable as they feel, and how easily our minds can be led to see things that never happened, miss things that are right in front of us, or make choices that feel entirely free but have been subtly influenced.  The talk will explore some of the key psychological principles that underpin magic. What is misdirection, and why does it work so effectively? How do magicians guide attention away from the secret method? What is forcing, and how can people be influenced into making decisions without realising it? And what can magic reveal about the everyday illusions that shape how we experience the world?

Combining science, demonstrations, and insights from the magician’s craft, this talk will show that magic is far more than entertainment. It is a powerful tool for understanding the mind, exposing the gaps between reality and experience, and revealing just how much of what we perceive is constructed by the brain.

Dr Gustav Kuhn is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Plymouth, where he directs the MAGIC Lab. He is President of the Science of Magic Association and one of the world’s leading researchers in the science of magic. His work explores how magicians manipulate perception, attention, memory and decision-making, using magic as a powerful tool for understanding the human mind. Gustav has published more than 100 scientific articles and two highly acclaimed books on the psychology of magic. He is also an award-winning magician and Member of The Magic Circle. His research has been featured widely in the media, and he regularly gives public talks that bring together science, magic and wonder.