Does hypnosis actually work?
I’ve always been curious about this, and most people seem to be divided on whether or not they believe it. I’ve heard of people who undergo hypnosis for anything from weight loss to quitting bad habits to phobias and even to make them grow taller (how could that *ever* be possible?). Then there are those shows with a hypnotist making people degrade themselves, supposedly unawares. Someone once told me about a man who was hypnotized to believe he was on fire, and a few moments later his skin began to erupt in boils until he was brought out of his reverie. Then there’s the opposite side of the spectrum; people who say it’s total rubbish. Does hypnosis work? If so, how? Do you remember you’ve been hypnotized? And how can it directly affect your physical being, like causing boils? Is it a matter of ‘works for some, not for all’? I’m confused. Thanks in advance.
Tagged with: bad habits • boils • few moments • hypnosis work • hypnotist • phobias • reverie • rubbish • spectrum • thanks in advance • weight loss
Filed under: Hypnosis
Susan Yarrawonga (279)
I read a book titled, "The Experience of Hypnosis." It was based on university and research studies and was quite thorough. Not everyone can be hypnotized. Strong-willed, competitive persons and physical risk takers are less able to be hypnotized. Thinkers, dreamers and those who work cooperatively with others are more able to be. There are also simulators who want to be hypnotized and swear that they were under hypnosis, but they weren’t. There are objective tests to determine whether someone is truly hypnotized, like needle sticks since the anesthetic qualities of hypnosis are well documented and widely accepted. So yes, it’s real.
Since in hypnosis you give up a large part of your will to the hypnotist (and they’re not exactly sure how that works, just that it does) what happens depends on the ethics of the hypnotist. You’ll remember what happened, but only if you’re told that you will remember it. Stage hypnotism is generally harmless. I doubt the wilder claims of therapeutic hypnotism; you’re getting into snake-oil territory. Past-life regression is a form of hypnosis, but it tends to create fantasies which are then accepted as memories. It took a long time for them to discover that you can put false memories into someone’s head, so any attempt to "recover" a memory by hypnosis tends to be risky. The subject’s only real motivation, having surrendered his or her will, is to please the hypnotist.
On a more general level, it parallels other experiences. Zen meditation, cult brainwashing, the born-again experience. The altered state can come from a hypnotist talking you into it or deep meditation (focusing on a mantra). Physical exhaustion is used by the Moonies on their "fun weekends". A lot of those experiencing the born-again phenomenon are looking for relief from emotional stress–and there are also simulators looking to fit in with this group. This is why police interrogations should be closely monitored and taped. If they keep the pressure on long enough, physical/mental/emotional exhaustion will get you to confess to anything from a murder to stealing the moon out of the sky.
yes everyone can be hypnotized. it happens all the time every day. the people who tend to not believe in it are actually more capable of being hypnotized. Its not like how youre probably thinking though. you cant make someone quack like a duck by using a pendulum (though there are meditative hypnosis techniques where you can concentrate on the ticking of a metronome, its VERY relaxing). hypnosis is basically speaking directly to the subconcious mind, sometimes without the other person knowing. i would recommend studying NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) as it sets the frame for basic models/techniques you can aquire to basically imprint something in someones mind (can anyone say INCEPTION lol). try you tubing NLP youll find some great stuff on it, because thats basically all hypnosis really is. I put people in trances ALL the time and directly speak to their subconcious in order to help change their negative self talk thought patterns, and to also find out what they really think about me and other people lol (be prepared!!). You can find out more about a person through NLP and Hypnosis than you would ever believe, it can be scary. Why do you think all the commercials nowadays are becoming more and more ridiculous and appealing with all their crazy special effects, they use anchoring and subliminal messaging covertly but if you know what to look for, you will see it right in your face clear as day. hope this helps