Preview

Essay On Hypnosis

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1654 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Essay On Hypnosis
Abstract

What is hypnosis? There are many varying definitions that try to define exactly what hypnosis means and how it is used. The American Psychological Association defines hypnosis as a “cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist”. While hypnosis has become famous as an act where people are used to perform ridiculous actions for others amusement, it has also been clinically proven to provide medical and therapeutic benefits. These benefits usually center on pain and anxiety, but what about other forms of hypnosis. There have been case studies on hypnosis for exploring nightmares, for past lives regression,
…show more content…
The procedure while looked down upon by some is still used by reputable doctors and psycologist today. There are those who believe it to be a valid medical tool of science. The word hypnosis is a broad term. It covers many, many different states of consciousness and many different types of suggestive therapy. The details of a hypnotic procedure or hypnotic suggestion can be different depending on what goal the practitioner is trying to accomplish and what is the purpose of the action. The introduction of hypnosis is first presented to the patient. The procedure involves telling the subject that suggestions for imaginative experiences will be presented to him/her. Hypnotic induction is a suggestion for someone to use their imagination, and can contain more elaborations of the introduction. Hypnotic procedure, however; is used to encourage and evaluate the person’s responses to suggestions. The person being Hypnotized is guided by the hypnotist to respond to suggestions for changes in subjective alterations of perceptions, experiences, emotions, or behavior. If the subject indeed responds to hypnotic suggestions, it can be inferred that hypnosis has been induced and was successful. Suggestions which permit the extent of the hypnosis to be assessed, can be used in both clinical and research settings, by comparing responses to standardized

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    1 (for all students in class). In a study of hypnotic suggestion, 5 male volunteers participated in a two-phase experimental session. In the first phase, respiration was measured while the subject was awake and at rest. In the second phase, the subject was told to imagine that he was performing muscular work, and respiration was measured again. Hypnosis was induced between the first and second phases; thus, the suggestion to imagine muscular work was “hypnotic suggestion” for these subjects. The accompanying…

    • 841 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    The term “Hypnosis” is difficult to precisely define. It comes from the Greek work “hypnos” which means sleep. However, it is helpful to provide one or two definitions to gain an understanding of its nature. According to Cambridge Dictionaries1 hypnosis is a “mental state like sleep, in which a person’s thoughts can be easily influenced by someone else”. Wikipedia, citing the Encyclopedia Britannica, 2004,2 also defines…

    • 2506 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A hypnotic intuction is the tool used by hypnotherypists in order to aid their clients in achieveing a trance state, it is known that this is harder for some clients to achieve then others, it is generaly accepted that some clients find it almost impossible to reach a trance state through hypnosis (Boys and Karle 2010), the majority of clients are however able to achieve light trance states and deeper. The simple fact that some clients find it easier to achieve hypnosis then other highlights the potential need for personalised inductions, every body is different, we all have different likes and dislikes, personalities and indeed life experiences that make us more responsive to different ques.…

    • 2118 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hypnosis enables the individual to change their level of consciousness where they move into a moderate or deep trance and subsequently open up the subconscious mind. In these states the individual can selectively focus on one thing without distraction thus facilitating susceptibility to hypnotic suggestion.…

    • 1872 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    It can be described as being in a sleep like trance once hypnotized. While being hypnotized people may experience it differently whether they feel as though their actions are involuntary and their body is separated, they’re extremely relaxed, or they are fully conscious of what is going on. (N.D) Some of the reasons why one might get hypnotized is to get rid of pain, reducing symptoms(vomiting) or getting rid of skin condition. Many people would say that they do not believe that hypnosis is real and that hypnosis does not work. (N.D) With that being said the explanation of the role theory and neodissociative theory will explain what…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    “There are many standardised procedures for the induction of hypnosis, but all have the aim of relaxing the patient and encouraging him or her to focus awareness inwardly” (Hadley & Staudacher, 1996, page 19). When a person decides to undergo hypnotherapy, an induction is required to ensure they are sufficiently relaxed to experience the process completely. Various formats are used, depending on why the hypnosis is being undertaken (such as; giving up smoking, weight loss). Some hypnotherapists use a standard format while others personalise the script to each individual. There are many techniques a therapist can adopt to suit the client and their personality, but this must be based on first impressions and using the techniques to better define that person and as a result give successful counselling. It is these techniques that will be addressed in further detail in the following essay.…

    • 2151 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Every successful hypnotherapy session must have an induction ensuring that the client is relaxed and is in a disassociated state in order fully experience the process. The type of induction used can be dependent on the personal preferences of the therapist or the type of hypnotherapy being undertaken in the session. There has been some debate as to whether a generic induction will be suitable for all clients or as some hypnotherapists advocate that only a personalised screed to each client will do.…

    • 2046 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    Hypnosis, as a term and as a practice, is shrouded in centuries of mystery and surrounded by misconception. Even the word itself, derived from the Greek ‘hypnos’, meaning sleep, is misleading; most people today, even if they hadn’t experienced it themselves, would recognise that being in a hypnotic state is not the same as being asleep. In order to reach a satisfactory definition of hypnosis, it is necessary therefore to explore its origins, examine its physical and psychological effects, and perhaps explode a few myths along the way.…

    • 2461 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hypnosis can help you create a life that you desire. It can help you find your passion and achieve your desires. Hypnotherapy can help to eliminate the stress and the stressors that are holding you back from finding the success you want to achieve.…

    • 209 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Essay 2 final hypnosis

    • 1905 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Essay 2: Review the Different Hypnotherapeutic Treatments for Stress, Anxieties and Phobias, Along with Limitations of this Treatment…

    • 1905 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    theories of hypnosis.

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There have been many studies carried out to test the predictions made by state theory on hypnosis being an altered state of consciousness. Oakely 1999 believed that during hypnosis the hypnotist hacks into the executive control system, meaning that the persons sense of self awareness is reduced and they lose control of their own decision making process, suggesting that the hypnotist has full control over the individuals executive ego. Rainsville 1999 carried out a study into pain management and hypnosis. He told participants to put their hands in hot water whilst hypnotized. Participants in group one were told it was unpleasantly hot whilst participants in group told it was less hot. PET scans showed that the inner cortex showed correlations with what the participants were told and how they were feeling. This evidence supports state theory as it shows that the hypnotist is in control of the participant’s executive ego allowing the hypnotist to control the participant’s actions.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hypnosis is a term that was coined by the English Doctor, James Braid, from the Greek God of Sleep ‘Hypnos’. This name itself gives the false impression that clients will be put to sleep during hypnosis – an error Dr. Braid himself realised but couldn’t rectify as the name ‘Hypnosis’ stuck and was preferred over the alternative name he offered ‘Monoeidism’. Dr. Braid showed that people under hypnosis were unusually susceptible to impressions on the senses and that much of the person’s behaviour under it was due to suggestions that were made verbally. (Hypnosis for Change; Third Edition, Page 16). Hypnosis has been described as being in a trance-like or very relaxed state, it has also been described as ‘a state characterised by focused attention and heightened suggestibility’ (Psychology.about.com)…

    • 2087 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    A Personalised Induction

    • 2604 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Induction is a type of tool to assist an individual to use the ability that each and everyone of us possesses such as to enable us to go into a trance. The subconscious mind can continue to hear what is said and for this reason the subconscious can continue being stimulated in the same way by using the senses. A personalised induction is used to help an individual focus his or her awareness on something and to slowly move towards the intended result. Inductions that might work for one person might not necessarily work for another, as no one person is the same. We all have different needs, likes and dislikes, cultures, thoughts and so forth, even though we all seem to appear similar. It is due to all these differences that might make a more personalised induction more successful for an individual. “One of the most fundamental conclusions drawn by Erickson after his years of observation was that every individual is unique” (Havens, 2003, p.23). Some hypnotists use a generic type script compared to other hypnotists that choose to write a personalised script that is specially tailored for the individual person. The type of script that is considered more effective is open for debate. A personalised induction may or may not work effectively as it depends on a variety of factors which will be discussed further on. A hypnotist’s technique and style might also have an influence on the client’s capability of becoming hypnotised or not.…

    • 2604 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Clinical Hypnosis Studies

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The hypnotized mind is capable of having more focused attention and awareness, and perhaps most importantly, a great increased level of response to suggestion. While are a number of theories about why hypnosis works, it is undeniable that the state of mind does exist. This state of mind is created through a process called hypnotic induction to numb the patient's mind through instructions and suggestions. While hypnotherapy has been somewhat controversial over the years, some case studies do exist that imply that the practice may be of some value to treating phobias such as aichmophobia.…

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    States of Consciousness

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The first and most common type is sleep. This altered state is controlled by the circadian rhythm, which is part of the human body’s biological rhythm. There are two theories of why humans sleep the adaptive theory that states that sleep patterns are evolved to avoid predators. The restorative theory states that sleep is necessary for the body to stay healthy. There are two types of sleep that a person will experience, Rapid Eye Movement (R.E.M.) where dreaming takes place and Non-R.E.M. which is more restful for the mind and body. A behavior that is associated with this altered state is sleep deprivation, which can result in serious health issues and affect mental performance (Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013). The second type, which is tied to sleep, is dreams. This altered state takes place during the R.E.M. type of sleep. A person can be in this altered state four to five times a night. A behavior that can be linked to this state is night terrors or nightmares that causes a person to awake suddenly and very afraid (Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013). The third type of altered state is hypnosis, where a person is susceptible to suggestion. As with sleep there is also two theories that try to explains this altered consciousness, first is disassociation, where the immediate consciousness of the mind is effect and the sub-consciousness is alert and aware. The second is social cognitive where the person is fully aware and is role-playing. An example of the use of hypnosis is pain relief, which the person’s…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics