Key Facts: Magicians, unlike many other creative groups, show lower scores on psychotic traits, indicating a lower likelihood of mental disorders. The precision and high-stakes nature of magic performances contribute to the unique characteristics of magicians in relation to their mental health. Magicians are distinct in that they both create and perform their own magic tricks, setting them apart from other creative professions. Summary: A new study reveals that magicians are less likely to face mental health challenges compared to other creative individuals like musicians and comedians. While creativity has often been linked to mental health issues, this research challenges that notion. The study measured the psychological traits of 195 magicians and found that they scored lower on key measures of psychosis, making them unique among creative groups. Magicians’ mental health profiles are most similar to mathematicians and scientists, shedding light on the complex relationship between creativity and mental disorders. https://neurosciencenews.com/magicians-mental-health-25222/
Seriously, where does one find 195 magicians for this 'study'? The application of magic in healthcare has been around for centuries.
If magicians have such good mental health what's with the whole mutilation of, usually young, females. Chopping them in half, head removal, insertion of generally multiple sharp objects, throwing sharp objects to at them, etc... I mean....these, usually, guys definitely seem a bit unbalanced to me.
Magicians are possibly more sane than some mentally ill people - they probably don't believe in magic for a start, and may be more cynical about some other weird beliefs as a result.
BPS model: Magicians will use their eyes, body language, movements, voice and other subtleties to direct a spectator's attention away from the facts.
Maybe we should put in a grant for a GWAS study on magicians. Chris Ponting would do a great job: DecodeMAgic. Magicians are everywhere. I know three off-hand, a next door neighbour, a colleague and a nephew. Should be a doddle finding 20,000 of them. There must be a gene for an anal desire to fool people moving your hands about. Maybe FOXthemP5, for instance.
We had two circus performer in our family --- loads of them here in Belfast (not the ones your thinking of - Belfast Community Circus School). With the right outcome criteria, I reckon good prospect of a +ve result --- mind you some of those kids may see through the usual s--t; you'd need to select the right ones!
Over time, several medical system influencers have strived to make ME disappear. Magicians of a different stripe.
It feels like there was another/better way to assess this claim e.g. by looking at those who have psychosis and seeing how many had previously been vs are x, y, z profession? Without this check then surely it suffers from the same 'disappearing drop-outs delusion' BPS uses whereby it thinks the Krypton factor filter of being able to continue in x or y profession providing an access barrier to being considered part of the group is actually 'protective' rather than the job just being something harder to do/keep when psychotic vs other 'creative work'?
Not sure how much credibility to give this research, but it would be possible to raise the old split between art and craft. A magician first and foremost must develop practical skills whereas for example with a painter skill is seen as secondary to creativity. For example Canaletto is seen less of an artist despite his very skilled representations when compared to others such as say Van Gough.
The practice of questioning the recovery behaviour of pwME from CBT/GET would definitely make me disappear for real.
So now that I've taken the time to process the fact that Jonathan Edwards knows of many magicians that may or may not be in the healthcare system, I've able to find a heart surgeon who is also magician and knows of many other medical magicians. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maEo-1mFH2g
