Too perfect to be good? An investigation of magicians' Too Perfect Theory.

ABSTRACT: The "Too Perfect Theory" states that if a trick is too perfect, it might paradoxically become less impressive, or give away its secret method. This theory suggests that an increased impossibility results in a less magical effect. The Too Perfect Theory is often applied to magic effects, but it conflicts with recent scientific investigations showing that participants' level of enjoyment of a magic performance is positively related to their perceived impossibility of the trick. The current article investigated whether an imperfect magic performance is more impressive than a perfect one. Across two experiments, we studied whether participants enjoy a performance more if the effect is not perfect. We also examined the different types of explanations people give to these two types of performanc

SUBMITTER: Pailhes A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9161811 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature