What is Hypnosis? 2000 words Describe the psychological and psychical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in Hypnotherapy. The word hypnosis derives from the word ‘Hypno’ a Greek word which means sleep.
Hypnosis is a state of mind that every human being at some point in their life is said to encounter, perhaps in their everyday life which they are not aware of; it is a trance like state where the mind becomes relaxed and different levels of consciousness takes place.
Hypnosis can be summarized under various headings;
Absorption, a state or process of being absorbed,
Dissociation; behaviour’s that occurs with other thoughts. Apparently dissociation is the basis of hypnosis, the hypnotized person is able to maintain control of certain thoughts and behaviour’s, while other thoughts are being influenced by the hypnotist. A modern day example Derren Brown.
James Braid a famous physician from the 19th century termed the condition “hypnosis”; a trance like state, however this gave the public the wrong impression of what hypnosis was as they thought hypnosis was being asleep whilst being hypnotized.
The differences between sleep and hypnosis are; whilst being hypnotized the subject is aware of the hypnotist’s tone of voice, the incoming information they are providing and how suggestible the subject is to following their instructions.
Whilst asleep the mind is absent of consciousness, which makes it harder for the subject to be open to suggestion.
Hypnosis has been present socially and culturally for many centuries and has been associated with mysterious phenomena, shamans, magicians, mystical activities, therapy, cure illness, entertainment, influencing politics and science.
Cultures throughout the world have used hypnosis for rituals, regression and helping people with many different causes and can be dated back as far as Ancient Egypt, whose rituals are of the
Similar practice as the native Indians. The Egyptians and the Indians would use this practice as a healing alternative for the sick. Patients were taken to sleep temples to be induced into a hypnotic state (sleep like trance) where they believed they then would be cured from their illnesses post therapy.
It is opinion that governments have always used suggestion to exercise power throughout history to influence social, political and environmental issues. It is said that Stalin was advocate of hypnosis and used of a variety of techniques, such as repetitive and rhythmical speech in his political appearances. Stalin banned the practice in 1948 throughout the Soviet Union, believing in the power of subconscious instruction.
Hypnosis is a therapy which has been largely debated in the medical and scientific world. Our understanding of what hypnosis is, an induced state of mind using a variety of techniques.
The medical and scientific community strive to have a greater understanding of the individuals mind and how is it altered by measuring the brain and electroencephalography (EEG). Each brain wave determines the subject’s state of mind, which makes scientists see how hypnosis has effected individuals and how receptive they are to suggestion.
A degree of cynicism surrounds hypnosis to the present day. Fictional novels and popular culture (in the form of TV shows) have influenced society into thinking that hypnosis is used to manipulate people’s ways of thinking, that they don’t have control of what they say or act when their hypnotized.
Particular authors during the 19th century describe characters in their novels to be strong people. The majority of characters and story lines are typically male who lure and manipulate women into a hypnotic state. The characters are mesmerized or controlled by the perpetrator (operator, which means the subject is vulnerable to their demands.
Trilby 1894, and other novels are