so much wisdom and many great tidbits here, don't even know where to begin except to say great article, and I tried to pull out just a few key ones that especially resonated for me...

The memory of a magic effect is as important as the initial reaction. When someone describes a magic effect they just saw, they always exaggerate, forget certain parts, and make up details without even knowing it. It's well known eyewitness testimony is unreliable. "But my memory is accurate," says the fool.

The performer's tone of voice, words, body language, and actions all have implied meanings. Add to these, physical methods like sleight-of-hand and prepared "gimmicks," and a deception can be built up with many layers of depth.

Even with over a decade of study, testing theories in performance, and watching professional magicians, I am still easily fooled if a magician uses an original method. In some cases, having more knowledge makes deception easier. There are "magician's magicians," skilled in fooling other magicians by using their knowledge against them.

And this last one sounds like Edward Bernays all the way (considered the father of modern "public relations" with his 1928 book Propaganda): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays

Imagine the sophisticated techniques of manipulation that could be employed with the knowledge from years of psychological experimentation.