Hypnosis

Jean-Martin Charcot, of the Salpêtrière hospital, Paris, demonstrates hypnosis on a patient supported by his assistant
Advertisement poster of 1857:
"Instant sleep. Miscellaneous effects of paralysis, partial and complete catalepsy, partial or complete attraction. Phreno-magnetic effects... Musical ecstasy... Insensitivity to physical pain and instant awakening... transfusion of magnetic power to others..."
Photographic Studies in Hypnosis, Abnormal Psychology (1938)

Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination".[1] It is an altered state of consciousness.[2][3][4]

Usually, one person (the "hypnotist") talks to another (the "subject") in a special way that puts the subject into a trance. While the subject is in this state, he can be influenced by suggestions. The hypnotist can tell him to forget his name, or that the room is hot (he will start sweating), or that he is someone else.[5] Hypnotic suggestions may be delivered by a hypnotist in the presence of the subject, or may be self-administered ('self-suggestion' or 'autosuggestion'). The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as 'hypnotherapy', while its use as a form of entertainment for an audience is known as 'stage hypnosis'.

Contrary to a popular misconception—that hypnosis is a form of unconsciousness resembling sleep—some contemporary research suggests that hypnotic subjects are fully awake and are focusing attention, with a corresponding decrease in their peripheral awareness.[6] Subjects also show an increased response to suggestions.[7] However, the behavior of subjects under hypnotism goes so far beyond normal focused attention that the description of "altered state of consciousness" is more used.[8]

  1. Harris, Tom (2001). "Science vs. myth". Science.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  2. Lynn S; Fassler O; Knox J (2005). "Hypnosis and the altered state debate: something more or nothing more?". Contemporary Hypnosis. 22: 39. doi:10.1002/ch.21.
  3. ↑ Tart, Charles T. 1969. Altered states of consciousness: a book of readings. New York: Wiley. ISBN 0-471-84560-4.
  4. Coe W. et al 1972. Hypnosis as role enactment: focus on a role specific skill (1972). "Hypnosis as Role Enactment: Focus on a Role Specific Skill". The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. 15 (1): 41–5. doi:10.1080/00029157.1972.10402209. PMID 4679790.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. "New definition: Hypnosis". Division 30 of the American Psychological Association
  6. Spiegel, Herbert and Spiegel, David. 1978. Trance and treatment. Basic Books, New York. p22 ISBN 0-465-08687-X
  7. Lyda, Alex. Hypnosis gaining ground in medicine. Columbia News. Columbia.edu. Retrieved on 2011-10-01.
  8. Steven J. Lynn; Judith W. Rhue (1991). Theories of hypnosis: current models and perspectives. Guilford Press. ISBN 978-0-89862-343-7. Retrieved 30 October 2011.

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