It's not something that's been specifically addressed in the show, but it's the feeling I've gotten from their conversations.

Examples:

In He Dead, Shawn tells Abigail about how he was cradling the dying man's head and all that. Which, while not true, is a closer to the truth lie than what he told everyone else--that he had psychically divined where the dead man was.

At the beginning of Bollywood Homicide, Shawn points out to Abigail where he goes when one of his wild accusations ends up correct and when one of them ends up not correct.

There are various other scenes like this where one little line from one or the other of them seems to suggest that she knows and that he's not trying to hide it from her. I wonder if that will at all come into play later.

You raise good points, but I'm relatively sure that she doesn't know.

Yes those are good points but I'm pretty sure that he hasn't told her that specifically. When we first met Abigail Shawn told her that he is a Psychic detective and she asked "How do you choose to be a psychic?" and he said "It's a gift not a choice."

You right about it, but don't forget that Abigail know shawn from the past, from high-school, so I think she know the truth but she let him keep his show without interfere.

This is a good question! I've wondered it as well.

Here is my "Belief Hierarchy"--clearly from most skeptical to least.

1. Henry-Henry doesn't believe anything Shawn says, ever.

2. Gus-Gus is a believer in most things, so even though he knows Shawn isn't psychic, I want to imagine that a part of him wonders if Shawn's skills are more than just observational.

3. Chief-I would really, really, really love it if, at the end of the series, the audience found out that the Chief has known that Shawn is not psychic since Henry and she spoke during the pilot. If Vick is shown to have kept him on as a psychic because she knew he could solve cases and as a favor to Henry to help salvage he and Shawn's relationship; that would be so satisfying.

4. Abigail-She has a history with Shawn. She knows he stories. I don't think he has told her directly but she would not be surprised by the truth. It would entertain her, not hurt her feelings.

5. Lassiter-He will be pissed when he finds out. And will say that he knew it all along-- to save face. He has never believed it. He just has never been able to catch Shawn at it...yet.

6. Juliet-I think she believes. I think she has wondered about certain things but she trusts Shawn more than any one else. I think she would be hurt by Shawn admitting he isn't psychic.

Wow! you put a lot of thought into that and i almost completly agree. One thing i want to add is that if we look at this from a completely realistic pov, if anyone important ever found out that shawn wasnt psychic wouldnt they have to go back and reopen every case where shawns visions put someone away or charges were pressed? for legal reasons?

I think you've pretty much nailed it!

Wow, this is a very interesting thread with well thought- out points.



I agree with you, Riktal. shawn and abigail have history and therefore, she knows on some level what shawn is capable of doing (e.g.making up stories or his observational skills perhaps)



good points you've got there, MarthanotGeorge.
re: henry's belief- LOL, i couldn't agree with you more

re: gus' belief- he does believe in supernatural occurences; however, he knows shawn all his life and knows him too well so i guess he just firmly believes in shawn's natural gift of heightened observational skills

re: chief vick- yes, i think she knows that shawn is not a psychic but since he's able to deliver well and bring results, she lets him continue to work for the police (let's not forget though her threat in the pilot that they will prosecute if they ever find out he's not a real psychic)

re: abigail- AGREE

re: lassie- he's the only one who's expressed his skepticism consistenly but deep down he admires and believes him for being a good detective (why else would he give him a chance to work with him in the case that put himself in jeopardy in lassie did a bad, bad thing, or went to him for help in high noonish?)

re: jules- agree, i think she believes him to be a psychic



you raised a good point, but i think, perhaps, there'd be no need to reopen the cases he solved since he's able to produce concrete pieces of evidence which could be the legal bases themselves (e.g. confessions from the culprits, surveillance cameras, among other tangible proofs he's able to present) ?- just a thought

You're right, psychlone. Visions are not admissible in court, so they don't have the bearing that's needed to reopen a case. In each case, Shawn has proved his point or coerced other people to prove it for him.

while all of the evidence was always something concrete, it is possible that the methods of obtaining the evidence could throw it out.

i cant think of a good example right now but if the SBPD searched a place or a person because shawn told them to psychically and they didnt have any other reason beyond that, then it could be questioned in court.
im pretty sure that isn't the case for the most part, but its quite possible that each case would have to be reopened to at least check and make sure. i highly doubt many, if any at all, cases would have to even go back to trial.

They can't get a search warrant based on a vision.

I was actually wondering about something similar recently. It's not like Shawn can testify in court without his psychic stuff coming up. Imagine him testifying against the guys who shot and kidnapped him (which theoretically might happen).

Lawyer: "And why were you at the truck yard in the middle of the night?"

Shawn: "Oh, I had a psychic rumbling that something was going on and felt the need to investigate."

He can't explain how he really came to that conclusion without compromising his position with the police.

well, gus showed jules shawn's computer search history so she knows that he connected the mechanic with an armored truck and thus, the ice cream truck. so he can probably be honest and say he was doing some investigating and that he wanted to confirm his findings before involving the police.
not everything shawn knows is passed off as being a vision. especially now in the 4th season. he hardly has visions anymore!

That's very true. I think Shawn could come up with a concrete enough reason without giving himself away. Technically, I guess he could plead the fifth, too, though that might not look too good. He could probably have Gus back him up, too, using vague, yet specific enough, words like "investigating."

I believe that Shawn's smart enough to avoid the cases being re-investigated anyway. I'm sure he'd find some way, and even if he is taken to court and such, we've already seen that he can hold his own in court, so he'd probably be able to weasel his way out.

I just watch the episode: He Dead - and find the answer:

When Abigail in the Psych office and Shawn tell her about how he found the plane and Gus keep telling him to stop make up stories, Abigail said to Gus that it's OK, because when Shawn lie it's make her feel he's care - what proves that she knows that he just pretended and he's not a real psychic, but she let him keep his game - because ofter all - he's not hurting anyone with that.

What do you think - Am I right?

though i haven't watched the eppy itself, that does make sense.