AS FEATURED ON
Unveiling the Magic of Our Minds
I'm Alice Pailhès — a psychological scientist who reveals the hidden forces that shape our choices, beliefs, and behaviors.
By blending illusion and psychology, I help people see what their minds are hiding from them and how that understanding can spark transformation, insight, and awe.
I combine the rigor of psychological science with the wonder of magic to create experiences that both captivate and transform — whether I’m writing, speaking, or building interactive experiments. My work helps people and organizations understand their mental blind spots, decision-making patterns, and cognitive biases, so they can become more aware, empowered, and intentional in everything they do.
What I Offer
I offer tailored services that focus on both personal and organizational transformation:
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For Organizations & Teams:
I design customized workshops and training programs to help your teams overcome cognitive biases, enhance critical thinking, and make better decisions.
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For Conferences & Events:
I deliver interactive, thought-provoking keynotes that bring psychology to life through captivating demonstrations and illusions — leaving audiences inspired, informed, and delighted.
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For Creatives & Researchers:
I collaborate with artists, creators, and academics to enhance their work with psychological insights, helping them push boundaries and connect with audiences in deeper, more meaningful ways.
A Unique Approach to Transformative Experiences
By combining cutting-edge psychological research with the art of magic, I create experiences that leave a lasting impact. I help individuals and organizations unlock their full potential by addressing the cognitive biases and perceptual blind spots that influence behavior. My workshops and talks are designed to engage, educate, and inspire.
TED talk: What magic tricks can reveal about free will
Biography
I’m one of the few researchers in the world to specialize in the psychology of magic — and my work has pioneered the scientific study of forcing techniques, the subtle mind control strategies magicians use to shape people’s choices without them realizing it.
Using magic tricks as tools for scientific inquiry, I explore the illusions of free will, decision-making, memory, and belief — revealing just how easily our minds can be misled. My research has been published in top-tier academic journals including PNAS, JEP: General, and Trends in Cognitive Sciences, and has been featured in TED, The Financial Times, BBC One, and the Wellcome Collection.
I have co-authored The Psychology of Magic with Dr. Gustav Kuhn, gathering scientific insights about magic to make it useful and accessible to the magic community.
I am also a committee member of SoMA - the Science of Magic Association - an interdisciplinary organization that promotes rigorous research directed toward understanding the nature, function and underlying mechanisms of magic.
I am a regular keynote speaker on the topic of the psychology of magic, decision-making, illusory freedom over choice and the quirks of our mind.
What's Next?
I'm currently writing my first trade book, Everyday Magic (working title), which explores how the psychological principles behind magic tricks can help us understand and reshape our everyday thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. The book is scheduled for release in 2026.
Alongside the book, I’m launching Alice's WonderLab — an interactive space on this site where you can participate in live psychological experiments, contribute to real research, and see what your mind might be hiding from you.
I’m also developing a video series that will bring scientific insights to a wider audience — blending entertainment and enlightenment to make psychology irresistible.