> Modeling a stranger's mind is the key to this kind of deception. I think there are two schools of thought on that question. For instance, you might think th

> Modeling a stranger's mind is the key to this kind of deception. I think there are two schools of thought on that question. For instance, you might think that pick up artists are very confident people, but this is not always true: http://lesswrong.com/lw/cn/instrumental_vs_epistemic_a_bardic_perspective/9ng http://lesswrong.com/lw/cn/instrumental_vs_epistemic_a_bardi... "Mystery one of the greatest teachers in the [PUA] community has coined the phrase: 'Competence over confidence'. The key is to have a skillset not develop some conceited self-image." There are some pick up artists who simply know effective techniques, rather than being naturally skilled at picking up women. Similarly, it is natural to believe that being able to read people is very important to being a con man, but perhaps some con men simply have techniques which they have developed via experiment rather than instinct.