The explanaition to this mysterius pull technique is simple.
Derran is a jedi.

I died laughing "all of these people were de-converted after filming"

I’m really happy he tries to bring to light all the similarities between organized religion and brainwashing/hypnotism techniques, because it’s honestly terrifying.

This is actually the phenomena of "pleasing the doctor".  The subject is compelled to become in synch with - and to please - their doctors, actually lying about their illness in order to downplay their suffering, in order to  please the authority figure.  I think I see that in this group.  Much of stage work of this kind is similar, but with the added stressor of the audience, forcing him to comply with the authority figures instructions to a further degree.  I've been in situations like this, and is VERY hard to suppress.  I actually saw a journalist do it (suppress the instinct to comply) and not be at all affected by a bs secret energy "master" who could double over his students without actually physically touching them.  But the journalist has such an amazing sense of personal honesty, that the "master" couldn't do shit.  But the lesson here, I think, is that we allow ourselves to be victims.  It's almost like a fight or flight thing, we certainly don't mean to do it.  We (with normally functioning brains) want to please, particularly a person we consider "above" us.  And while it is how we are "good" people, it is exactly our biggest liability!  But we can practice controlling it.

'No one can make you feel inferior - without your consent.'

Just in case you didn't know, Derren Brown is a noted atheist and highly intelligent guy, hypnosis and psychology is his thing

I have an inner hug. Its called cocaine

"Do you believe in god now?"
"Yes I believe in Satan."

Wonder if Darren can convert someone's political allegiance ?

Derren's videos are amazing. I can't help but feel doubt, like clearly so many others do, that this is all just rehearsed and they're paid actors - but he's very open about things generally and he doesn't claim to be magical or psychic. He's very clear about it being a trick. He has also been shown to fail sometimes, which further increases his credibility with me. He even has been on talk shows and performed mind tricks, so I don't know. I lean towards it being real and him just being a very skilled mentalist, but there's always the possibility that it's an act.

True conversion is not about a sudden sensation. It’s about repentance, faith, and a relationship with Christ.

I'm an atheist, but I once watched a show written and performed by a guy who used to be an evangelical preacher and felt 'God' for a split second. I realised afterwards that it was just music, lighting and an emotionally charged story designed to put that feeling inside me but I was quite nervous and scared in the audience as I realised how easily one could be converted in an hour. I can see how a lifetime of listening to powerful speakers can make reality hard to suss out.

Aside from whatever magic trick you think is happening here, the fact that there wasn't even a slight reaction from the crowd when that guy dropped is very telling.

people are so incredibly deprived of real love, that a simple, innocent, and genuinely comforting touch can instantly pull them out of their protective shell, open their hearts, and instill absolute trust.

the world is crying, and nobody can hear it.  this manipulation is so incredibly easy because of how desperate everybody is, for a hero to save them from their pain.

The comments on every Derren Brown video are so laughable. It's like no one actually understands who he is and what he actually does.

The thing is, those people wouldn't have gone to that talk if they weren't, on some level, looking for an excuse to beleif.

I wish they'd shown him telling them the truth at the end to see their reactions.

I hate when people learn I am an atheist, and then tell me they will pray for me, it is like they didn't just figure out that means nothing to me

Derren Brown does an excellent job of demonstrating how we can influence each other, both positively and negatively. Words and past traumas can deeply affect our thinking and decision-making, often in ways we're not even aware of.

Derren tells the guy he is going to catch him before he starts his thing, then tells him he wont tell him what he's going to do. Genius level suggestion.

Been a follow of Derren for a long time.  His stuff always amazes and last year I was fortunate enough to have caught his live show in the UK.  Listen to his audio books, he explains a lot of what he does.  If one studied as he did, it would seem like magic and rustle those who are weak willed/minded.

Understand that there would be a LOT that would have happened in the background to make such things happen.  For example, his event where one person guessed the a winning horse 3 times in a row.  Truly amazing odds but in reality, he actually went to the extreme to go through the odds then the film part only showed the winning person, making it seem like he knew she would pick all 3 winning horses.

He is a master at his craft and the saying that 'any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic' is utterly true for this genius.