accuracy rate of psychic predictions

source: moran, s. (1999). psychics: the investigators and spies who use paranormal powers. Surrey, England: CLB.

1. Peter Hurkos, a Dutch psychic

powers: "'He sees through sealed envelopes and brick walls. he has only to look at a man or woman to know their darkest secrets. it is enough for him to pass his fingertips over the back of a photograph to know whether its subject is living or dead.'" (Out of this world, volume 4)

accuracy self-rating: "'i have never claimed more than 87.5 percent accuracy in my readings.'" (hurkos, p. psychic: the story of peter hurkos) (in moran, 1999, p. 38)

2. Vanga Dimitrova, the "blind prophetess" of bulgaria

powers: increased her extrasensory perception as she became totally blind by age 19, as if by compensation; could predict future events as if she had people's lifeplans in front of her; worked with bulgarian police to solve crimes; known for finding missing people; allegedly able to diagnose diseases before they had even been contracted

accuracy rating by scientists: "her accuracy rating was described by scientists at about eighty percent, which means, although not right all the time, her 'gift' cannot have been pure guesswork" (moran, 1999, p. 59)