Page 33 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - Jan-Feb 2018, Vol 27, No 1

Hypnosis: Fact or Fiction 33

Hypnosis: Fact or Fiction

by Tom Harris

When you hear the word hypnosis, you
may picture the mysterious hypnotist figure
popularized in movies, comic books and
television. This ominous, goateed man waves a
pocket watch back and forth, guiding his subject
into a semi-sleep, zombie-like state. Once
hypnotized, the subject is compelled to obey, no
matter how strange or immoral the request.
Muttering "Yes, master," the subject does the
hypnotist's evil bidding.
This popular representation bears little
resemblance to actual hypnotism, of course. In
fact, modern understanding of hypnosis
contradicts this conception on several key
points. Subjects in a hypnotic trance are not
slaves to their "masters" -- they have absolute
free will. And they're not really in a semi-sleep
state -- they're actually hyperattentive.
Our understanding of hypnosis has
advanced a great deal in the past century, but the
phenomenon is still a mystery of sorts. In this
article, we'll look at some popular theories of
hypnosis and explore the various ways Early Hypnohistory shows so entertaining. Normally reserved,
hypnotists put their art to work. sensible adults are suddenly walking around the
People have been entering hypnotic-type trances stage clucking like chickens or singing at the top
What is Hypnosis? for thousands and thousands of years; various of their lungs. Fear of embarrassment seems to

forms of meditation play an important role in fly out the window. The subject's sense of safety
People have been pondering and arguing over many cultures' religions. But the scientific and morality remain entrenched throughout the
hypnosis for more than 200 years, but science conception of hypnotism wasn't born until the experience, however. A hypnotist can't get you
has yet to fully explain how it actually happens. late 1700s. to do anything you don't want to do.
We see what a person does under hypnosis, but The father of modern hypnotism is Franz But what is it that makes this happen? In
it isn't clear why he or she does it. This puzzle is Mesmer, an Austrian physician. Mesmer the next section, we'll look at the most widely
really a small piece in a much bigger puzzle: believed hypnosis to be a mystical force flowing accepted theory of what's going on when you
how the human mind works. It's unlikely that from the hypnotist into the subject (he called it become hypnotized.
scientists will arrive at a definitive explanation "animal magnetism"). Although critics quickly
of the mind in the foreseeable future, so it's a dismissed the magical element of his theory, What Lies Beneath
good bet hypnosis will remain something of a Mesmer's assumption, that the power behind
mystery as well. hypnosis came from the hypnotist and was in The predominant school of thought on hypnosis
But psychiatrists do understand the some way inflicted upon the subject, took hold is that it is a way to access a person's
general characteristics of hypnosis, and they for some time. Hypnosis was originally known subconscious mind directly. Normally, you are
have some model of how it works. It is a trance as mesmerism, after Mesmer, and we still use its only aware of the thought processes in your
state characterized by extreme suggestibility, derivative, "mesmerize," today. conscious mind. You consciously think over the
relaxation and heightened imagination. It's not In conventional hypnosis, you approach problems that are right in front of you,
really like sleep, because the subject is alert the the suggestions of the hypnotist, or your own consciously choose words as you speak,
whole time. It is most often compared to ideas, as if they were reality. If the hypnotist consciously try to remember where you left your
daydreaming, or the feeling of "losing yourself" suggests that your tongue has swollen up to keys.
in a book or movie. You are fully conscious, but twice its size, you'll feel a sensation in your But in doing all these things, your
you tune out most of the stimuli around you. You mouth and you may have trouble talking. If the conscious mind is working hand-in-hand with
focus intently on the subject at hand, to the near hypnotist suggests that you are drinking a your subconscious mind, the unconscious part of
exclusion of any other thought. chocolate milkshake, you'll taste the milkshake your mind that does your "behind the scenes"
In the everyday trance of a daydream or and feel it cooling your mouth and throat. If the thinking. Your subconscious mind accesses the
movie, an imaginary world seems somewhat hypnotist suggests that you are afraid, you may vast reservoir of information that lets you solve
real to you, in the sense that it fully engages your feel panicky or start to sweat. But the entire problems, construct sentences or locate your
emotions. Imaginary events can cause real fear, time, you are aware that it's all imaginary. keys. It puts together plans and ideas and runs
sadness or happiness, and you may even jolt in Essentially, you're "playing pretend" on an them by your conscious mind. When a new idea
your seat if you are surprised by something (a intense level, as kids do. comes to you out of the blue, it's because you
monster leaping from the shadows, for In this special mental state, people feel already thought through the process
example). Some researchers categorize all such uninhibited and relaxed. Presumably, this is unconsciously.
trances as forms of self-hypnosis. Milton because they tune out the worries and doubts
Erickson, the premier hypnotism expert of the that normally keep their actions in check. You (Continued on Page 35)
20th century, contended that people hypnotize might experience the same feeling while
themselves on a daily basis. But most watching a movie: As you get engrossed in the
psychiatrists focus on the trance state brought on plot, worries about your job, family, etc. fade
by intentional relaxation and focusing exercises. away, until all you're thinking about is what's up
This deep hypnosis is often compared to the on the screen.
relaxed mental state between wakefulness and In this state, you are also highly
sleep. suggestible. That is, when the hypnotist tells you
do something, you'll probably embrace the idea
“The difference between a dream and reality is just doing
it!” - Rob McConnell completely. This is what makes stage hypnotist