Secrets of the Psychics

Lore & Background

The episode opens with Randi stating that magical thinking can be dangerous and that he has no reservations about exposing fakery. It then presents segments on Uri Geller's spoon bending, Peter Popoff's faith healing, psychic surgery, astrology, palm reading, and confirmation bias. New footage from Russia shows the popularity of psychics and alternative medicine after the Soviet Union's dissolution.

Reader's Guide

Secrets of the Psychics is significant as a prominent example of skeptical investigation into paranormal claims, presented by a well-known illusionist. The episode has been used in university courses on critical thinking, such as at Southern Methodist University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where it was analyzed for its methods and the psychological factors behind belief. The Los Angeles Times described it as a worldwide investigation into psychic phenomena, and the New York Times noted that Randi made claimants look silly, though the review also called the episode patchy and criticized Randi's approach in the Russian segment. The documentary highlights how even scientists can be fooled by their own expectations, a point Randi made about confirmation bias. Bill Dembski's forthcoming book The Faces of Miracles includes a chapter on Randi that summarizes his career and concludes that when researchers look for a specific result, they tend to find it.

Did You Know?

• The episode includes stock footage of Uri Geller, Peter Popoff, and many others.
• PBS' NOVA Teachers program produced a Teachers Guide to support the show.
• The Brain Institute in Moscow was singled out in the Los Angeles Times for not using blinding, placebos, or control tests.
• The video has been covered in university courses on critical thinking, including at Southern Methodist University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.