What Can Conjuring Tell Us About Cognition? The Future of the Science of Magic

Abstract

During the past 20 years a number of articles have appeared within a field that has become known as the “science of magic.” This subdiscipline of psychology posits that the ancient art of conjuring can be used to develop psychological theories and knowledge, and more than 150 peer-reviewed articles have now been published. In the current article, we critically evaluate what can be considered as the three central tenets of the discipline: that the methods used in magic can be incorporated within experimental research, that magicians have particular insight into human cognition and behavior, and that the deconstruction of magic tricks can uncover novel psychological principles and mechanisms. We also discuss the problem that secrecy in conjuring creates for experimentalists and posit several recommendations that future scientists of magic might want to consider.