Hypnotic Suggestion

The world of stage hypnosis is a place where psychology and performance merge in a captivating dance. It's a chilling scene as intriguing as it is misunderstood.

A mysterious figure on stage waves a pendulum, the audience is ensnared, and within moments, volunteers begin to cluck like chickens or perform some other absurd act, much to the crowd's delight.

What is stage hypnosis?

Stage hypnosis is a type of hypnosis that is performed in front of an audience for entertainment purposes. Some people believe hypnosis is a type of mind control performed by a trickster. Stage hypnosis could be attributed to a number of psychological factors, participants' selections, suggestibility, physical manipulation, stagecraft, and trickery.

Imagine an amalgamation of psychology, showbiz, and a dash of the surreal. That is stage hypnosis.

It's a performance art, where a hypnotist induces a trance-like state in volunteers from the audience, compelling them to perform unusual or entertaining acts.

How does stage hypnosis work?

The stage hypnotist uses hypnotic inductions to coax audience members into a trance state. Hypnotic inductions are relaxation and concentration techniques.

How does hypnosis work on stage?

Stage hypnosis works by inducing a state of relaxation and focus in the volunteers selected from the audience.

The hypnotist may use a variety of techniques to accomplish this, including progressive relaxation, guided imagery, and suggestion. Once the hypnotic state or “trance” has been induced, the hypnotist gives the volunteers suggestions, or asks them to perform certain actions for entertainment value.

These suggestions might be things like believing they are a celebrity, acting like an animal, or forgetting their name.

The level of suggestion in stage hypnosis is not as deep as in therapeutic hypnosis, and participants are generally aware of what they are doing and able to resist suggestions if they choose.

What is the goal of stage hypnosis?

The goal of stage hypnosis is to entertain the audience and create a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved. The hypnotist uses a common method of induction guiding participants to focus on a specific thought or image, sidelining conscious thought and allowing the subconscious mind to take the wheel.

What are stage hypnosis inductions?

Inductions are the hypnotist's tool for transitioning participants from a state of conscious awareness to the suggestive state of hypnosis. They are designed to focus the mind and induce a state of relaxation. These techniques can include from visual prompts, like the swinging pendulum, to verbal cues, or even the hypnotist's tone of voice.

What is hypnotist entertainment? What is performance hypnosis?

Performance hypnosis, or hypnotist entertainment, takes the techniques of hypnosis and amps them up for the stage. The intention isn't therapeutic but entertainment. The hypnotist might encourage people to act out roles, follow unusual commands, or even convince them of alternative realities.

How do hypnotist shows work? How do hypnotists do it?

At the heart of any hypnotist show is the stage hypnotist. The stage hypnotist possesses not only knowledge of hypnosis techniques but also a performer's flair. Their act might begin with a demonstration of the power of suggestion or a group induction to get everyone in the mood.

Once volunteers are under hypnosis, the true performance begins. The hypnotist may have them perform actions they wouldn't typically do or believe things that aren't real, all for the amusement of the audience.

What is a stage hypnotist?

A stage hypnotist is a skilled performer with a firm understanding of hypnotic techniques. The stage hypnotist is the maestro of the show, drawing in audiences with charisma, then guiding willing participants into the world of hypnosis. They have to be adept at reading people, understanding who will be susceptible to hypnosis, and providing a spectacular show.

The three hypnosis myths are listed below.

• A person cannot be hypnotized against his or her will.

• A person cannot be hypnotized to commit an act he/she regards as immoral.

• A person cannot be hypnotized to commit an act he or she doesn’t already want to commit.

Prior to inducing the hypnotic trance, stage hypnotists proclaim the above three reassuring statements to lull the audience into a state of suggestibility.

Some virtual mentalists use hypnosis for entertainment and are in dispute within the world of psychology. Hypnosis did not assist individuals in remembering events more accurately.

A person who is under hypnosis has enhanced focus and concentration. Subjects are said to have an increased willingness to comply with suggestions. Before any surgical procedure, a hypnotic induction will be performed before the surgery in order to calm the patient and prepare them for the procedure. When hypnosis is used for therapeutic purposes is referred to as "hypnotherapy", while use by an audience is known as "stage hypnosis," a form of mentalism.

Is hypnotism real or fake?

Hypnotism is real.

Is hypnosis real on stage? Is stage hypnosis real?

In truth, hypnosis is a legitimate psychological phenomenon, but its use on stage is where things become controversial. The efficacy of stage hypnosis is highly dependent on the volunteer's susceptibility to suggestion. It is real in the sense that the person under hypnosis believes in the reality created by the hypnotist.

Skeptics argue that what is seen on stage is more akin to social compliance, where participants go along with the act, consciously or unconsciously, due to the expectations of the audience and the hypnotist. In other words, they're not really "under a spell," but instead playing along with the role they've been assigned.

The participants aren't faking. They might genuinely believe in the reality the hypnotist has spun for them. It's a complex interaction of social pressure, expectation, and the peculiarities of the human psyche. So, while stage hypnosis might not be "real" in the way we usually understand it, it's not entirely "fake" either.

What is hypnosis stiff and rigid?

The phrase “stiff and rigid” describes a specific response to suggestion. The hypnotist suggests to the subject that their body, or a part of it, is becoming stiff and rigid, like a piece of wood or a steel rod. The participant, under hypnosis, will believe this suggestion and their body or limb will behave as if it has indeed become rigid, defying attempts at bending or moving. It's a stunning demonstration of the power of suggestion and the depth of belief achievable under hypnosis.

The practice of hypnosis isn't exclusive to the stage. Hypnotists work in therapeutic settings, helping people overcome fears, change negative habits, or manage pain. In these settings, hypnosis is often a part of a larger treatment plan and is practiced by trained professionals.

How do people get hypnotized?

The process of getting hypnotized involves induction, then suggestion. This is true whether on stage or in a therapist's office.

First is induction, where the hypnotist guides the subject into a state of relaxation and focused attention. Next, the hypnotist presents suggestions, which the subject's mind, now more open and suggestible, accepts more readily. It's important to note that even under hypnosis, people won't do anything that strongly goes against their values or beliefs.

What is the 1952 Hypnotism Act?

The Hypnotism Act of 1952 is a UK law that regulates public performances of hypnosis. The 1952 Hypnotism Act requires stage hypnotists to obtain permission from local authorities before they can perform, and it gives those authorities the power to impose conditions on performances to ensure public safety. The 1952 Hypnotism Act was enacted in response to concerns about the potential dangers and abuses of stage hypnosis, reflecting the contentiousness of this captivating practice.

Despite the effect of hypnosis for reducing acute and chronic pain, meta-analyses show little to no effect for some other problems such as smoking cessation.

A person in a state of hypnosis is in a state of focused awareness and heightened suggestibility.

An individual under hypnosis may appear to be unaffected by what is happening around him or her. An individual in a hypnotic state will perceive things in accordance with the suggestions of the hypnotist. The subject's consciousness and memory may be altered by suggestion and the effects of the suggestions may be extended into the following day's activities.

Hypnotic suggestion is based on the placebo effect. This type of placebo would be beneficial because it allows for openness in suggestion and works to amplify its impact.

In Trance on Trial, a 1989 book about courtroom trials from the view point of the law, Alan W. Scheflin and Jerrold L. Shapiro observed that the deeper the hypnotism, the more probable it is that a certain characteristic will appear, and the more extensive it is. These are the critical characteristics that can indicate that a person is hypnotized.

De Quivilly coined the word "hypnotism" as a shortened form of "neuro-hypnotism". Braid popularized the term "hypnosis" and gave the oldest definition of the phenomenon. He contrasts hypnosis with normal sleep, defining it as "a peculiar condition of the nervous system...with a fixed and abstracted attention."

Braid amended the definition in later work Hypnotic Therapeutics:

The essence of hypnotic susceptibility is that a person is distracted or dulled by a single thought. Hypnotism can be the perfect alternative to common sleep.

Therefore, in defining hypnotism, Braid had claimed that it was a state of mental concentration that led to a state of relaxation. Braid said the term "hypnotism" or "nervous sleep" was only used for 10% of his patients and that the term "monoideism" or "concentration upon one idea" was more accurate.

A new definition of hypnosis, defined in the context of academic psychology in 2005.

Hypnosis typically includes an introduction to the procedure during which the subject is told that fantasies are to be presented. The hypnotic suggestion is a long and elaborate introduction to draw in the reader to the text. Hypnosis is a useful tool to evaluate responses to suggestions. When using hypnosis, a person is guided into a different way of thinking so that he responds to suggestions. Self-hypnosis can be taught at home by yourself. It will be assumed that the person has been hypnotized when they respond positively to hypnotic suggestions. Many people believe that hypnotic hallucinations and responses are features of hypnosis. While some people believe it is not necessary to use the words "hypnosis" as part of the induction, others believe it is essential to have them.

Michael Nash identifies eight different ways by which hypnosis has been defined.

Janet Cooper and Ernest Hilgard have defined hypnosis in terms of dissociation and dissociative symptoms.

Social psychologists such as Sarbin & Co describe hypnosis in terms of role theory. It is acting "as if" one is hypnotized.

Noticing that behavioral parameters do not correspond to typical hypnotic ones, Barber believed to have excluded hypnosis.

Weitzenhoffer, in his early works, conceptualized hypnosis as a state of enhanced suggestibility. Most recently he defined hypnosis as "one person influencing another through the medium of suggestion."

Psychoanalysts Gill and Brenman describe hypnosis with the use of "regression in the service of the ego."

Edmonston criticized hypnosis as being "just a state of relaxation."

Speigel and Spiegel feel that hypnosis is a biological quality.

Erickson believed that hypnosis was a special inner-directed, altered state of functioning.

According to Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell, hypnotism is just dreaming while maintaining the natural state of being awake. They see REM (rapid eye movement) state as fundamental for life and programming in instinctive knowledge initially (after Dement and Jouvet) and then addition in life. They claim this happens because all learning happens subconsciously, and therefore the kinds of things that it is possible to find hypnotic are extremely varied.

What is a hypnotic induction?

A hypnotic induction is a method of putting the subject into a hypnotic state. Some theorists view it differently, as a method of eliciting heightened expectation, focusing client attention, defining and reinforcing roles. There are several ways of inducing hypnotic induction. Many of the hypnotic induction techniques involve eye-fixation.

There are variations of eye-fixation persuasion technique such as induction used in study using Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS). Braid originally described this practice as holding a lancet case in front of the eyes of a person to induce extended double vision.

The patient must be made to understand that he must focus on the object and think only about that one object. This phenomenon will be taken notice of because of the voluntary change in the eyes. The doctor should clearly explain to his patient that the fingers have been removed from the eyes but that the eyes are to be kept fixed. Closed eyelids have a rapid vibratory movement.

After Braid discovered that hypnosis was unnecessary in every case, researchers have generally come to the conclusion that hypnosis is less effective than expected. These various methods of inducing trance were superseded by still more sophisticated approaches. However, this is still accepted as the best method. According to Robert White, who wrote in 1941, most of the hypnosis techniques call for reclining posture, muscular relaxation, and optical fixation, then eye closure.

What is hypnotic suggestion?

In the context of hypnosis, a suggestion is a directive given with the intent of influencing a person’s thoughts, perceptions, feelings, or behaviors.

The power of suggestion is amplified in a state of hypnosis, where the conscious mind's resistance is diminished. When the mind’s resistance is diminished this means the “critical faculty” is lowered, and the person is more open to ideas or instructions.

What are the two types of suggestions?

The two types of suggestions are direct suggestions and indirect suggestions.

Direct Suggestions

Direct suggestions are explicit commands given to the person. A hypnotist might directly suggest to a subject, "You are feeling very relaxed."

Indirect Suggestions

Indirect suggestions are more subtle and are often embedded within stories, metaphors, or other forms of communication that bypass conscious awareness. This approach, used in Ericksonian hypnosis, might involve the hypnotist saying, "As you sit there, you might notice every blade of grass is a different shade of green, and a sense of calm begins to spread throughout your body."

How does hypnotic suggestion work?

Hypnotists view suggestion as a form of communication directed to the subconscious mind. The concept of the subconscious mind was pioneered by Freud and Janet in the late 19th century.

Freud's psychoanalytic theory explains how conscious thoughts are on the surface of the mind, while unconscious processes are deeper in the mind. However, the Victorian pioneers of hypnosis did not think in terms of unconscious behavior.

Braid defines hypnosis as focused, conscious attention upon an idea (or suggestion). Milton Erickson believed responses are mediated by an unconscious mind, a view of mind influencing the concept of subliminal suggestion. Hypnotists who believe that responses to suggestion are primarily mediated by the conscious mind have made far more use of direct verbal suggestions, like Nick Spanos does.

What is ideomotor action?

Ideomotor action refers to a psychological phenomenon in which a thought or a mental image brings about an unconscious physical movement.

The concept of ideomotor actions, aka “ideomotor responses,” suggests merely thinking about an action, even subconsciously, can cause your body to move involuntarily in that direction.

For example, if you imagine turning a doorknob, your hand and wrist might unconsciously automatically mimic the imagined motion. You didn't intend to physically act out the movement, but the mere act of vividly imagining it led to a slight, unconscious movement.

In the context of hypnosis, ideomotor action explains how suggestions from the hypnotist can lead to physical responses. If a hypnotist suggest a subject's arm is getting lighter and will start to rise, the subject may indeed find their arm lifting without a conscious decision to do so. This is seen as an ideomotor response, the physical action (arm lifting) resulting from the mental suggestion (the arm is getting lighter).

The concept of ideomotor response is also often invoked to explain phenomena like dowsing or the movements of a Ouija board, where the subconscious mind is believed to be influencing small muscle movements.

What are the three classes of hypnotism?

The three classes of hypnotism are traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and cognitive-behavioral hypnosis.

1. Traditional Hypnosis

   This is perhaps the form of hypnotism most recognized by the general public, and often what is portrayed in media and entertainment. The hypnotist, considered an authoritative figure, delivers direct suggestions or commands to the hypnotized individual who is in a highly suggestible state. The hypnotist may use a range of techniques, such as a pendulum or other forms of focused attention, to help the person enter this state.

2. Ericksonian Hypnosis

   Developed by Milton H. Erickson, an American psychiatrist who specialized in medical hypnosis and family therapy, Ericksonian hypnosis takes a different approach. Instead of direct commands, the hypnotist uses metaphors, storytelling, and indirect suggestion to influence the subject's behavior. The idea is to bypass the conscious mind's natural resistance to direct commands, making it particularly effective for individuals who have difficulty with the direct suggestions used in traditional hypnosis.

3. Cognitive-Behavioral Hypnosis

   This class of hypnotism merges hypnosis with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). The goal here is to use the suggestible state of hypnosis to help instill new patterns of thought and behavior that are helpful for the individual. Hypnosis is used as a tool to enhance the effectiveness of CBT techniques, helping the individual more readily accept and integrate the cognitive and behavioral changes they are working towards.

Each of these classes of hypnotism serves different purposes and is utilized based on the needs of the individual and the preferences of the therapist or hypnotist.

What are the three stages of hypnotic trance?

The three stages are light hypnosis, somnambulism, and regression. Brindley defined hypnosis in these three stages. Jean-Martin Charcot made a similar distinction, dormancy, lethargy, and catalepsy.

Post-Hypnotic Reflections: The Final Awakening

As we emerge from the trance of this exploration into hypnosis, it is fitting that we find ourselves in a place of contemplation and newfound understanding. Hypnosis, whether in the confines of a therapist's office or under the spotlight on a stage, remains an intriguing phenomenon, a testament to the power of suggestion and the flexibility of the human mind.

We've unearthed truths about the craft, debunked hypnosis myths, and shed light on the controversial aspects of the practice. Like stepping out of a mesmerizing performance, we've been both spectators and participants in this fascinating world of the subconscious.

The curtain falls on our discussion much like it does at the end of a hypnotist's performance, but the echo of the experience remains, a kind of "Emerging from the Trance." Hypnosis, real or perceived, captivates the imagination and challenges our understanding of the human mind's capacities. Whether you find yourself ready to step up to the stage, there's no denying the hypnotic allure of this enigmatic psychological phenomenon.

The world of stage hypnosis is one full of mystery, spectacle, and controversy. While the practice plays with the blurred lines between reality and illusion, there's no denying its ability to captivate audiences. Whether you're a staunch skeptic or a willing participant, there's a certain thrill in exploring the mesmerizing power of the human mind.