1. States of Consciousness
Myth #10: HYPNOSIS IS A UNIQUE "TRANCE" STATE THAT DIFFERS IN KIND FROM WAKEFULNESS
States of Consciousness

3. 1. Hypnosis is NOT: Mysterious and creepy
A mystical or supernatural force
Giving up your control over your own actions
Being dominated by the power of the hypnotist
Being put to sleep or sleepwalking
Brainwashing
Very difficult
A means of giving your abilities that you didn’t already possess

4. 2. Hypnosis IS:
A natural state of mind that is different from your normal waking state and different from being asleep
Giving the hypnotist your cooperation
A state of deep relaxation in which you are highly suggestible
An avenue to plant suggestions into your mind in a powerful way
Possible (and easy) to do yourself to harness its power for improved performance
A means of unlocking abilities that you have always had

5. 3. Hypnosis
Defined: A state of heightened suggestibility 4. Have you been hypnotized?

6. Concentrate…

7. Creative Imagination Scale
7. How suggestible are you?

8. 8. Who is More Likely to be Hypnotized?
Want to be
Believe it can help
Fantasy-prone personality

9. Can You Be Hypnotized? 40% low 30% medium 30% high Want to be
Believe it can help
Fantasy-prone personality

10. How Do You hypnotize? Establish relationship FIXATION:
Concentrate on an object or voice
RELAXATION:
Deep state (techniques to induce)
REPETITIVE SUGGESTION:
Suggest behaviors that are occurring
(heavy eyes, feeling “sleepy”)

11. Can You Be Hypnotized Against Your Will?

12. Theories: Trance Theory
Altered state of consciousness
Ernst Hilgard
Divided (Dissociated) consciousness
#1: Hypnotized part (carries out instructions)
#2: “Hidden Observer”
Discovering Psychology: The Mind Hidden & Divided
(begin 11:52)

13. Evidence? Ice bath experiments #1: Hypnotized part: Feels no pain
Report pain as ‘1’ on scale of
#2: Hidden observer
Pushes the button (reports feeling pain)
A: Points to “Pain scale”
B: Ice immersed in ice bath

14. Social Influence Theory
Authoritative person in a legitimate context
Motivated by social pressure to perform: role playing
“I want to be a ‘good subject.’”
“I don’t want to embarrass myself.”
They are awake (not a special “trance”)

15. Evidence? Can resist hypnotic suggestions
Just as responsive to suggestions as when wide awake & exercising on an exercise bike as when hypnotized.
Can produce all phenomena associated with hypnosis (hallucinations & insensitivity to pain) with no hypnosis
12. What do YOU think?

16. What Do People Do “Under” Hypnosis?
Imagined perception – fixation/feel or believe something
You feel no pain
Post-hypnotic suggestion
You will no longer feel pain after this session
Post-hypnotic amnesia
You won’t remember what happened during hypnosis
No evidence to support
Pain control
Dental/anesthesia
Same results with exercise/meditation
Age regression
Used to retrieve memories from the past
No clear evidence to support accuracy of these memories
Not admissible in court

17. Hypnotherapy: Repressed Memory
One Case
1969 crime, George Franklin convicted of murdering Susan Nason based on “eyewitness testimony” of daughter Eileen Franklin; sentenced to life (1990)
Exonerated 1996

18. Applications Entertainment
Treating pain, medical conditions, depression, anxiety, obesity (in conjunction with other therapy)
Primary benefit is relaxation!

19. Relaxation: Autogenic Training
Similar to self-hypnosis
Mind has power over the body
Use that power to produce a relaxation response
ACTIVE thinking
YOU actively REPEAT certain thoughts in your mind.

20. Autogenic training FOCUS on each sensation Repeat them
IMAGINE them occurring in your body
YOUR BODY makes them real

21. Physical sensations association with relaxation response
Heaviness in limbs
Warmth in limbs
Slower heart beat
Slower and deeper rhythm of breathing AND
Coolness on forehead