Presentatie van Bernd Kramer tijdens Skepsis congres 2013. Speaker investigated the German esoteric scene in a very personal way: He tried to offer supernatural services himself. He quickly got a job at a psychic hotline. Soon he had clients willing to believe almost everything he would tell. What makes these kinds of fake realities so attractive for people? And are we all seducible?

1. Enlightenment anyone?

2. Enlightenment anyone?
●
Overview
1. Why I did an undercover research in the esoteric scene?
2. How I became advisor on a psychic hotline
3. How I offered my services at a paranormal fair
4. Conclusion

3. Enlightenment anyone?
●
Overview
1. Why I did an undercover research in the esoteric scene?
2. How I became advisor on a psychic hotline
3. How I offered my services at a paranormal fair
4. Conclusion

4. Why I did an undercover research
in the esoteric scene?
●
„Invisible religion“ (Thomas Luckmann, 1993)
„Religion“ spreads out of its original institutions, religious
elements can be found nearly everywhere in daily life:
workshops, health sector, wellness, therapy...
Two characteristical features:
1. based on individual experience (instead of dogma)
2. everyone can be a potential religious leader (for
himself/herself as well as for others)

5. Why I did an undercover research
in the esoteric scene?
●
„Invisible religion“ (Thomas Luckmann, 1993)
Are we all seducible?
How easy would it be to become a „guru“?

6. Enlightenment anyone?
●
Overview
1. Why I did an undercover research in the esoteric scene?
2. How I became advisor on a psychic hotline
3. How I offered my services at a paranormal fair
4. Conclusion

7. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
The market for psychic advice in Germany:
Pioneer and market leader: Questico, a Berlin
based company founded in 2000

8. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
The market for psychic advice in Germany:
Questico: founded 2000 as an Internet portal for those seeking
advice and expert advisors (a huge range of advice, not only
esoterical advice)
The only category that worked: „astrology“, a sub-category of
„health“
In 2002, Questico specialised in esoteric advice
In 2004, Questico launched an own TV programme to promote
its services: „Astro TV“

9. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline

10. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline

11. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
So I decided to offer my supranatural services
on one of these websites...

12. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
The first customer is calling ...

13. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
They do damage...
For example: A woman, 38 years old, mariage crisis, looking for
advice at Questico
In March, she paid 88,31 €
April: 122,89 €
May: 3224,65 €
June: 5341,63 €
July: 5376,94 €
(Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 23. 10. 2010)

14. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And nobody feels responsible:
7.6 We have no control over, do not guarantee, and You will not
hold Us responsible for:
(a) any damage arising as a result of actions taken by
Customers in response to Services such as readings and
interpretations and advices provided by Readers;
(b) the quality, safety or legality of Content displayed, or
Services and/or information exchanged between Users;
(c) the truth or accuracy of Content, information and Services
such as readings and interpretations and advice provided by
Readers;
(http://www.thecircle.com/uk/terms-and-conditions/)

15. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
How to be a good advisor
„You have a need for other people to like and admire you.“
„You have an tendency to be critical of yourself.“
„You have a great deal of unused capacitys.“
„Disciplined and self-controlled on the outside, you tend to be
worrisome and insecure inside.“
„At times you have serious doubts as to whether you have
made the right decision or done the right thing.“
„At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at
other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved.”
(Forer, B., 1949: Fallacy of Personal Validation. A Classroom
Instrument, p. 120)

16. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And how the clients react
„It's unbelievable how you described me although you knew
nothing about me but my name.“ (Dorothea)
„No one before described my so perfectly. That's me! That's my
life!“ (Silke)

17. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And if clients have a very specific question?
Same advice: Tell them something that will be true in any
circumstance!

18. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And if clients have a very specific question?
“Use the technique of' 'fishing'. This is simply a device for getting
the subject to tell you about himself. Then you rephrase what he
has told you into a coherent sketch and feed it back to him. One
version of fishing is to phrase each statement in the form of a
question. [...]
Emphasize that the success of the reading depends as much upon
his sincere cooperation as upon your efforts. [...]
Dramatize your reading. [...] Make it seem more than it is.
Always give the impression that you know more than you are
saying.“
(Hyman, Ray, 1977: Cold Reading. How to Convince Strangers
That You Know All About Them)

19. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And if clients have a very specific question?
“Finally remember the golden rule: Tell the client what he wants to
hear.”
(Hyman, Ray, 1977: Cold Reading. How to Convince Strangers
That You Know All About Them)

20. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And if clients have a very specific question?
“My question concerns a relationship with a man, that is already
over, but still bothers me. What does it mean? Will we make
contact again?“ (Dorothea)
„Will he come back? Will we have a second chance? What does he
feel?“ (Caro)

21. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And if clients have a very specific question?
“My question concerns a relationship with a man, that is already
over, but still bothers me. What does it mean? Will we make
contact again?“ (Dorothea)
„Will he come back? Will we have a second chance? What does he
feel?“ (Caro)

22. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And if clients have a very specific question?
“I clearly see that you are very disappointed and hurt by him. But
let me tell you: Inside he is aware that he has lost an extraordinary
spiritual person with you. I see that there will be a chance for new
contact with him as soon as you both have sorted our your
feelings.”

23. How I became advisor on a
psychic hotline
●
And if clients have a very specific question?
“How you described our relationship and his way of thinking. It's
absolutely true!” (Caro)
„I thank you so much for your words. It's unbelievable how you
described our situation.“ (Dorothea)

24. Enlightenment anyone?
●
Overview
1. Why I did an undercover research in the esoteric scene?
2. How I became advisor on a psychic hotline
3. How I offered my services at a paranormal fair
4. Conclusion

25. How I offered my services at a
paranormal fair
●
Christmas decoration with supernatural power

26. Enlightenment anyone?
●
Overview
1. Why I did an undercover research in the esoteric scene?
2. How I became advisor on a psychic hotline
3. How I offered my services at a paranormal fair
4. Conclusion