I wonder if they are using people with related powers like psychics and social thinkers to do this
Maybe? It's hard to tell. So far all abilities seem to have a few similarities.
Functionally they're either energy based, or body-altering with
minor cosmetic changes. Of the energy abilities, they can be divided into those that are projected (blasts, waves, electricity, particle beams, etc.), and those that are constructive (shields, cloaks, 'limbs', blades, etc.) Aside from the usual suspects, there are a few strange powers like lie detection, tracking, 'time' manipulation, and of course, John. When broken down though, these seem to be able to be fit under the above classifications, albeit with a little squinting. The tracking ability is a visual alteration that allows the user to detect the 'auras' of other abilities, as well as create some form of energy tag to track a target beyond normal capabilities, though still easily disrupted and lost. Lie detection we have even less information about, but from the context it is clear to not be about observing normal bodily functions, nor can it detect deflection or misdirection. It
can however detect statements the speaker knows to be objectively false though. With all those limitations in mind, I at least am under the impression the ability is some means of scanning another 'aura' and detecting fluctuations, though whether or not lie detection is the
only use is uncertain. The 'Time' manipulation ability of one of the protagonists is certainly one of the stranger abilities seen, and also one of the most misleading. For one, the user can function and interact with the world freely in such a way that time-locked reality really shouldn't allow. They can also manipulate portions of themselves for the purposes of accelerating the natural healing process (though with the same risks of naturally healing things poorly without proper treatment or preparation first), and can do this without damaging the rest of their body. Personally, I am of the opinion that this is actually some means of (contact) field that allows for excessive personal acceleration and automatically makes the complex adjustments needed for an individual to operate at those velocities while still perceiving and interacting with things 'normally' (like touching something without splattering from contact at hyper-sonic speed). The acceleration is also most definitely
not absolute. Fast enough that human perception cannot detect movement, or even sound, but still well below
c as normal vision is possible.
The final, and most relevant ability, is that of John's. He is capable of detecting other aura's within a certain range, and then replicating them with a practically clairvoyant degree of skill (for all that abilities seem to be a mixed bag of instinct and practice, and John has yet to show any troubles matching or exceeding others skill). Additionally, as John possess a larger quantity of power, he is capable of using those abilities to
greater effect then the original, though it is possible certain developed techniques would be beyond his capacity to replicate on the spot. While John can use multiple abilities without any apparent difficulty or loss of effectiveness, he also seems limited to what users are within his range of detection, though whether that is a hard limit, or merely a matter of ease of use with a 'template' at hand is unknown. Mechanically it looks like a whole mess of different lesser functions.
Aside from abilities themselves, all ability users have reserves of 'power'. The quantity of this reserve is, at least naturally, locked to a hard-limit. While it does not appear to determine the nature of an ability, or how skillfully it might be used, it does have a major impact on the capabilities of the ability in question. The scale used to measure this power goes from 1-10, with the quantity itself being exponential in nature. Interestingly, while power-level has a significant impact on ability, it also seems to provide enhanced physical attributes (strength, durability, senses, etc.), meaning a high-power individual, even if they have an ability unsuited for combat, can still be quite dangerous.
How exactly they are enhanced is uncertain, as is if they are mentally improved in any way, though so far it appears to not be the case beyond senses.
Finally, abilities (and the physical boost that comes with them) must be consciously activated, and while in that activated state cause the iris of the eye to emit light in the visible spectrum corresponding to the individuals 'aura'.
Interestingly, while all people are supposedly 'equal' when inactive, and are certainly equally durable, John is capable of detecting other 'auras' he could copy, while other high-tiers are implied to retain enhanced senses capable of detecting threats or projectiles even when inactive.
When it comes to mental effects in particular, there has yet to be any ability shown to directly increase intelligence or skill. Various high-tiers
are highly skilled, but they are also inundated in a culture of perfectionism, while in comparison John is apparently average or mediocre in most things with the exception of academics (which he comments to have worked hard for), and martial arts (which he is implied to have worked hard for) and has grown up in a lower social class. Though how much of his mediocrity is genuine or a result of acting or a suppressed ability is impossible to tell. Similarly, the lie-detector was honestly terrible at interrogation or observation without relying on her power, while her superior (who did not possess an ability suitable for mind-games as he did not utilize it) was much better trained and experienced with observation and manipulation.
The
single exception to all of this (being Ability users are normal people + power + cultural pressures), is John. Who is honestly somewhat psychopathic whenever using his ability or getting close to it. Getting exact clarity is difficult however, as his is a unique case in both nature (copy everybody and use it
better) and power (10, implied to be highest recorded though you just know there's some final boss somewhere with the same, probably in the Authority). Additionally, information on his background is still lacking. John himself repulsed by his darker nature, he's only shown it after extended periods of stress, there is an unknown nature and quantity of manipulation at the hands of the Authority,
and he apparently was at least partially in possession of this 'mood' prior to being jaded and manipulated (though he was also a kid, and kid's can be viscious little shits even in peaceful societies much less ones like UnOrdinarys'). On the other hand, John retained his darker (asshole) side even when his ability was suppressed, and so far the only individual with a completely negated ability has shown no mental changes beyond what could be expected of the situation.
In conclusion, so far it appears abilities do not operate in a way that could directly improve, alter, or manipulate the mind like a 'thinker' could, and the single possible exception is already an outlier and without much clear evidence to point to either possibility of affecting mind/personality or not.
