Patrick Jane's mentalist techniques from "summary" of The Mentalist Code and the Search for Red John by David Daniel

Patrick Jane is a character from the police drama Mentalist in which he uses his superior observation skills and keen understanding of human behavior to solve cases. He calls it “reading people” and it has been developed through years of practice and study.

In addition to his mastery of observing and interpreting nonverbal behaviors, Patrick Jane also relies on psychological techniques such as cold reading, intellectual simulations, suggestion techniques, and controlled communication.

Patrick Jane's approach to crime-solving stands out due to his creative techniques. He intertwines settled science and forensics sciences and finds evidence that had previously been overlooked.

His methods combine traditional detective investigation with imaginative interpretations or guesses derived from deduction and intuition. He continually seeks to understand suspects, victims, bystanders by getting into their minds and looking for clues that don't normally surface.

He often will use clever maneuvers and persuasive gambits to examine a person’s mental process in order to make them reveal important information. He may isolate a suspect or elicit certain responses from witnesses, even manipulating the environment to his advantage when necessary.