Humans Are Generally Predictable Sheep

Steven Novella, Neurologica

Magicians, marketers, and politicians all count, to some degree, on the belief that people (at least collectively) behave in fairly predictable patterns. Each has their own subculture and, history, and research as a guide, but the core phenomenon is the same. Magicians are probably the easiest to demonstrate - if you have ever been to a quality magic show you have likely been amazed at what you saw.