| Skeptics say that the evidence presented for | | | | Steward of University of Central Oklahoma, |
| its existence is unverified or not | | | | showed that college seniors and graduate |
| sufficiently verified for scientific | | | | students have more paranormal beliefs than |
| acceptance. Many parapsychologists who study | | | | college freshmen. According to the Steiger |
| psychic phenomena agree that many of the | | | | scientific report, higher education tends to |
| instances of more popular psychic phenomena | | | | support belief in the paranormal. |
| such as mediumism and other psychic feats, | | | | |
| can be attributed to non-paranormal | | | | Some people also believe that psychic |
| techniques such as cold reading and hot | | | | abilities can be activated or enhanced |
| reading, or even self- delusion. Magicians | | | | through the study and practice of various |
| such as Ian Rowland and Derren Brown have | | | | disciplines and techniques such as |
| demonstrated techniques and results similar | | | | meditation, with a number of books and |
| to those of popular psychics, but they | | | | websites being dedicated to instruction in |
| proffer psychological explanations instead of | | | | these methods (see Psionics article for |
| paranormal ones.[citation needed] They have | | | | details). Another popular belief is that |
| identified, described and developed complex | | | | psychic ability can be inherited and is |
| psychological techniques of cold reading and | | | | something that can be passed down from one |
| hot reading. | | | | generation to the next. |
| | | | |
| James Randi | | | | There are also a number of individuals who |
| | | | have been proclaimed or proclaimed themselves |
| Former stage magician and noted debunker | | | | to be psychics and/or mediums. Some of them |
| James Randi has offered a $1 million prize to | | | | make a living as professional fortune |
| anyone who can actively demonstrate "any | | | | tellers. Some either host their own TV |
| psychic, supernatural or paranormal ability". | | | | programs, such as John Edward or are featured |
| In order to claim the prize, a challenger | | | | on the shows of others, such as Sylvia Browne |
| must first complete a preliminary evaluation | | | | (see Paranormal television). Some have made |
| - demonstrate a psychic ability in | | | | predictions of future events, with varying |
| uncontrolled circumstances - and must then | | | | degrees of accuracy, or have published books |
| demonstrate the same ability under agreed, | | | | of predictions or metaphysical ideas based on |
| controlled circumstances. No challenger has | | | | psychic themes. |
| yet passed the preliminary evaluation. | | | | |
| | | | Fiction |
| Correspondence and claims from 150 applicants | | | | |
| are listed on the James Randi Educational | | | | Psychic characters are common in fiction as |
| Foundation (JREF) website. | | | | well. For example, The Dead Zone by Stephen |
| | | | King (and the film and TV series based on it) |
| Popular culture | | | | are about a psychic named Johnny Smith whose |
| | | | abilities are awakened after a car accident. |
| Belief in psychic abilities is common. For | | | | Psychic abilities are also used by the |
| example, one 2006 poll by researchers Bryan | | | | fictional character Raven Baxter in the |
| Farha of Oklahoma City University and Gary | | | | television show That's So Raven. |