|
Diversionery tactics
This week's episode sees Derren illustrating one of the oldest psychological tricks in the book: picking pockets. 'Pickpockets are masters of psychological manipulation and control,' says Derren. 'Though they are gone in an instant, what they are doing when they steal from you is using a psychological version of visual misdirection – controlling your attention. For instance, they might focus your attention by 'accidentally' touching one wrist, so you're not paying attention as they slip your watch from the other.' Crowded trains make an ideal pickpocketing opportunity. As people press up against you, you are less likely to feel alarmed if someone happens to squeeze the pocket containing your wallet or purse.
Another well-known trick thieves employ is to pretend that they have dropped something, then start scanning the ground. The chances are that you will, too, and while you're distracted, they are helping themselves to your wallet. But though some pickpockets are simply opportunists, real street thieves spend years mastering the art of distraction.
Baffling speed
The young man whom Derren continually pickpockets at the train station, for instance, doesn't notice what's happening to him even though it seems perfectly obvious to the audience. But in a similar situation, most of us would be just as easily stripped of our possessions. As the baffled commuter admits, 'I didn't really know what was going on – it was so quick I didn't notice.' This is because, as anti-street crime experts will tell you, the age-old scam of picking pockets has survived simply because human beings usually focus their attention on one thing at a time. Distract them with something else, and they will soon forget about their wallets, jewellery and other valuables.
Charm offensive
However it doesn't even take someone to dip into your bag to scam you out of your hard-earned cash. Even the most vigilant traveller can find their judgement suspended by the 'psychological misdirection' techniques of a manipulative salesperson. Derren says when he first approached the commuter at the station: 'I wanted to see how boldly I could fleece someone, while being as charming as possible, so I kept him slightly bewildered with a series of instructions and questions which rendered him very suggestible.'
This is how hard-core salesmen operate, says, Derren. 'They draw your attention to another area of choice such as what colour you want, presupposing that you have already agreed to buy an object,' he says. 'By getting you to focus on the peripheral areas, they bamboozle you into thinking you are getting more value for money.'
You have been warned...
Further information
Channel 4 Television is not responsible for the content of third party sites
DVD/Video
Mastering the Art of Watch Stealing with James Coats
http://cnb-host2.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/merchantofmagic
Watch-stealing expert and professional magician, James Coats, demonstrates the secrets of his craft in this DVD.
Websites
True Magic
www.truemagic.com/none/obvious.html
Intriguing article about the art of misdirection – making someone believe one thing while something else is happening.
Choreographic Misdirection
www.leirpoll.com/choreographic_misdirection.htm
Jarle Leirpoll gives his top tips and techniques for performing choreographic misdirection – using your body movement to direct where the spectator looks.
World Magic Centre
www.worldmagiccenter.com/Theory/TheoryOfMagic.html
Online resource on the theory of magic by Al Schneider. Go to chapter five for a detailed analysis of direction and misdirection.
The Merchant of Magic
http://cnb-host2.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/merchantofmagic
An online magic shop based in the UK that supplies magic tricks, books, DVDs and videos to professional and amateur magicians around the world.
« Back to Subtle Skills
Top of page
|
