Hypnosis
A state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility.
Hypnosis is a human condition characterized by focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion. The term itself derives from the Greek word for sleep, and was popularized in English by the Scottish surgeon James Braid around 1841, though it was originally coined by Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers in the 1820s. Braid’s practice was based on the earlier work of Franz Mesmer, known as Mesmerism or animal magnetism, but Braid differed in his theoretical explanation of how the procedure worked. A hypnotic state typically begins with a hypnotic induction, a series of preliminary instructions and suggestions. Braid’s own influential method was the "eye-fixation" technique, also called Braidism, which has many variations, including the induction used in the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, a widely used research tool. However, Braid himself later acknowledged that such an induction was not always necessary. Competing theories explain hypnosis differently. Altered state theories view it as an altered state of mind or trance, distinct from ordinary consciousness. Non-state theories interpret it as a placebo effect, a redefinition of a therapeutic interaction, or a form of imaginative role enactment. Some researchers have defined hypnosis in terms of dissociation, role theory, relaxation, or as a biological capacity. Others see it as a special, inner-directed altered state of functioning. One modern definition characterizes hypnosis as any artificial way of accessing the REM state, the same brain state in which dreaming occurs. The use of hypnosis for therapy, called hypnotherapy, is distinct from its use as entertainment, known as stage hypnosis. Its application to retrieve and integrate early trauma is controversial, as research indicates it may aid the formation of false memories, and medical hypnosis is often considered pseudoscience or quackery.
- field
- Psychology, Medicine, Entertainment
- known_for
- Induced state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility
- controversy
- Therapeutic use for trauma retrieval is controversial; may aid false memory formation
Lore & Background
Hypnosis is a human condition characterized by focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion. It typically begins with a hypnotic induction, a series of preliminary instructions and suggestions. Competing theories explain hypnosis: altered state theories view it as an altered state of mind or trance, marked by a level of awareness different from the ordinary state of consciousness, while non-state theories see it as a placebo effect, a redefinition of an interaction with a therapist, or a form of imaginative role enactment. During hypnosis, a person is said to have heightened focus and concentration and an increased response to suggestions. The term hypnosis derives from the ancient Greek for "sleep" and was popularized in English by the Scottish surgeon James Braid around 1841, who based his practice on Franz Mesmer's "Mesmerism" but differed in his theory. Hypnotic suggestion is explicitly intended to make use of the placebo effect, and has been characterized as a "non-deceptive placebo." The use of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes is referred to as hypnotherapy, while its use as entertainment is known as stage hypnosis. Research indicates that hypnotizing an individual may aid the formation of false memories, and medical hypnosis is often considered pseudoscience or quackery.
Reader's Guide
Hypnosis is a human condition characterized by focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion. It typically begins with a hypnotic induction, a series of preliminary instructions and suggestions. The term derives from the ancient Greek for "sleep" and was popularized in English by the Scottish surgeon James Braid around 1841, who based his practice on earlier mesmerism but differed in his theory. The American Psychological Association defines hypnosis as a procedure where a subject is guided to respond to suggestions for changes in subjective experience, perception, sensation, emotion, thought, or behavior. Competing theories explain hypnosis: altered state theories view it as a distinct trance or altered state of consciousness, while non-state theories interpret it as a placebo effect, a redefinition of a therapeutic interaction, or imaginative role enactment. Some researchers, such as Irving Kirsch, have characterized hypnosis as a "non-deceptive placebo" that openly uses suggestion. The use of hypnosis for therapy is called hypnotherapy; its use for entertainment is stage hypnosis, a form of mentalism. Therapeutic use to retrieve and integrate early trauma is controversial, as research indicates it may aid the formation of false memories. Medical hypnosis is often considered pseudoscience or quackery.
Did You Know?
- The words hypnosis and hypnotism derive from 'neuro-hypnotism' coined by Étienne Félix d'Henin de Cuvillers in the 1820s.
- Hypnosis is used therapeutically as hypnotherapy and entertainingly as stage hypnosis, a form of mentalism.
- Research indicates that hypnotizing an individual may aid the formation of false memories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring mental state in which a person's attention narrows sharply while their awareness of surroundings dims, making them more receptive to directed cues. It is not sleep, nor is it a form of mind control—it is a cooperative, voluntary experience.
What are Hypnosis's powers/role?
At its core, hypnosis grants a person an unusually strong ability to follow suggestions, whether that means visualizing a relaxed body or temporarily altering how they perceive pain. In clinical settings this is harnessed as hypnotherapy, while on stage it becomes a performance art relying on volunteer compliance.
How does Hypnosis's story end?
There is no single 'ending'; hypnosis remains an active, debated topic in both research and practice. Its scientific standing is still contested, with some researchers treating it as a distinct altered state and others framing it as ordinary focused attention amplified by social context.
Why is Hypnosis important?
It sits at the intersection of psychology, medicine, and popular culture, giving clinicians a tool for managing pain, anxiety, and habit change while also feeding a long tradition of public fascination. Understanding it helps separate evidence-based therapeutic applications from the mythologized image of a subject obeying every command.
What is Hypnosis's biggest controversy?
The most heated debate centers on using hypnosis to 'recover' repressed traumatic memories, a practice many psychologists warn can actually plant false memories rather than uncover true ones. This risk has led most professional guidelines to caution against relying on hypnotic recall as evidence in legal or clinical settings.
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