Lifting - Scientific Explanation?

[LaydeeSelby]

I remember doing some kind of experiment with a group of friends. Two of us tried to lift one person from the floor using only our little fingers and couldn't do it. One of us then applied strong pressure to his head for several minutes then we tried lifting him in exactly the same way. This time we were able to lift him easily. Has anybody else ever done this? Is there any scientific explanation for it? Thanks.

[Loosehead]

This is complete boll0ck5. The first time you do try and use a finger, the second time you are lifting with most of your hand. Just conning yourselves. I've seen it done many times and exposed the trick after. It's amazing what some people will believe. So by pressing on someone head you negate gravity, right oh!

[LaydeeSelby]

No it's not ********. We lifted in exactly the same way each time. We certainly were not 'conning' ourselves as we weren't trying to make it work. There was nobody involved who had done it before who was trying to 'trick' us. Anybody have an answer that's actually useful?

[Hammer]

It's one of those things that the people involved are not aware that they are doing anything differently, bu they are. Loosehead is correct. It's like ouija boards and Derren Brown, the power of suggestion makes you think you can do it, so you do.

[Loosehead]

So you have a way of negating gravity, well done. Now let's all go down to the next shuttle launch and press down heavily on the booster, lots of us. Then the shuttle will be much lighter and can get into orbit much quicker, with less fuel. NASA must be kicking themselves!

[Hammer]

I'll tell the missus before she goes to her next Fat Fighters meeting.

Pass the kebab, would you....

[Azimov]

I think the point the others are trying to make is that although no single person in the room was attempting to trick you, the whole experiment was geared toward making you believe that something extraordinary was about to happen and so, of course, it did!
Whether you care to believe it or not, the experiment as described to you originally, gave you the firm expectation of initial failure followed by miraculous success.

Try the same experiment with a different group but tell them that they will succeed on the first attempt...
Make up some long-winded preamble about bone structure, mental focus, NASA scientists etc, just enough bull to get their minds around the idea and I'm willing to bet that it'll work on the first attempt.

It's called suggestion!

[rob.hine]

Have any of you carried something heavy in one hand for a short time and then when you have put it down you arm feels lighter and seems to lift a bit on it's own? Maybe it's a similar thing. You all push down hard on the person's head and then when you quickly try to lift them with 'just your fingers', you don't realise how hard you are trying to lift because your arm is 'lifting' a bit on it's own.