Hypnosis

Contents
 APA Definition of Hypnosis
 “Father of Hypnosis”--Mesmer
 History of Hypnosis
 Hypnotic Induction Procedures
 Suggestibility/Susceptibility
 Behavior Under Hypnosis
 Hypnosis and Changes in Perception
 Hypnosis and Involuntary Control
 Theories of Hypnosis
 Hypnosis and Emotional Health
 Hypnosis and Physical Health
 Self Hypnosis
 Hypnosis vs. Sleep and Dreams
 Brain Activity
• Delta
• Theta
• Alpha
• Beta
 Sources
 Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a state of heightened suggestibility in which people experience
imagined test suggestions as if they were real.

APA Definition
According to the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Division of
Psychological Hypnosis, hypnosis is a procedure during which a health
professional or researcher suggests while treating someone that he or she
experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. Although
some hypnosis is used to make people more alert, most hypnosis includes
suggestions for relaxation, calmness, and well-being. Instructions to imagine or
think about pleasant experiences are also commonly included during hypnosis.
People respond to hypnosis in different ways. Some describe hypnosis as a state of
focused attention, in which they feel very calm and relaxed. Most people describe
the experience as pleasant.
 Father of Hypnosis”
Franz Anton Mesmer

Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815)

Mesmer used the power of suggestion to ‘cure’ illnesses in the 18th century. The
Austrian physician referred to his ability as a type of animal magnetism. Although
his abilities have since been discredited, he is immortalized in the verb “to
mesmerize”. He was born in Swabia, Germany 1734.In 1774, Mesmer had a
patient swallow iron, and used magnets to “heal” her. In 1775, Mesmer was
unsuccessful in curing the blindness of a young musician. In 1777, scandal and
embarrassment caused him to leave Vienna.
Mesmer believed that illness was caused by obstruction of the free-flow of life
processes, and as a conductor of animal magnetism he was able to help restore the
natural process.
The evolution of Mesmer's ideas and practices led James Braid to develop
hypnosis in 1842.
Mesmer’s Treatment
Mesmer treated patients both individually and in groups. With individuals he
would sit in front of his patient with his knees touching the patient's knees,
pressing the patient's thumbs in his hands, looking fixedly into the patient's eyes.
Mesmer made "passes", moving his hands from patients' shoulders down along
their arms. He then pressed his fingers on the patient's hypochondriac region (the
area below the diaphragm), sometimes holding his hands there for hours. Many
patients felt peculiar sensations or had convulsions that were regarded as crises and
supposed to bring about the cure. Mesmer would often conclude his treatments by
playing some music on a glass armonica.

A glass armonica is a type of musical instrument that uses a series of glass bowls or
goblets graduated in size to produce musical tones by means of friction

History of Hypnosis
18th Century Paris: Franz Anton Mesmer gained popularity for what he termed
“Animal Magnetism”. In 1784, The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Animal
magnetism was established.
– They concluded that Animal Magnetism did not exist and therefore had
no curative powers.
Marquis de Puysegur renamed what we now know as hypnosis, artificial
somnamulbism. The Abbe Jose Custodia di Faria called it lucid sleep.In
1843James Braid coined the term hypnosis, which comes from the Greek work for
sleep, “hypnos”.In 19th Century Hypnosis was viewed as a matter of the degree of a
person’s suggestibility.Late 19th Century, A.A. Liebeault reconciled the sleep
metaphor with suggestibility theory. At end of the 19th Century, Two “schools“ of
hypnosis were formed in France.
First three decade of 20th century: Interest in hypnosis declined until Clark L.
Hull’s book, Hypnosis and Suggestibility: An Experimental Approach.
World War II: Small group of hypnosis clinicians were able to provide pain relief
and alleviation of suffering to their severely injured patients through the use of
hypnosis. This group of clinicians banded together after the war and formed the
Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and later on the American Society
of Clinical Hypnosis.
1950’s: Invention of the electroencephalogram (EEG) which measured differences
between hypnosis’ pattern that is indistinguishable from being relaxed, alert with
eyes closed and sleep’s EEG that consists of four distinct polygraph-defined
stages.
1960-1990: “Halcyon Days” of hypnosis. During this time, three major hypnosis
laboratories for the research of hypnosis were formed. Today, one still remains in
Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania.

Hypnotic Induction Procedures

Hypnotic induction is the process by which one person leads another into
hypnosis. It is not necessary to swing a watch in front of the eyes or say “you are
feeling sleepy”!Moss (1965) reported being able to sometimes induce a trance
simply by saying “Please sit in that chair and go into hypnosis”!The goal of most
induction procedures is to relax the subject and increase his or her attention.The
only essential feature of any induction procedure is that the subject must realise
that they are being hypnotised. In addition, it is not possible for someone to be
hypnotised against their will.People differ in how susceptible they are to hypnotic
suggestions. This can be measured by hypnotic susceptibility scales.
 Sample test items from the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale,
Form C
Item Suggested Criterion for
Behaviour Passing

Arm lowering Right arm will Arm lowered by

become heavy at least 6 inches

Moving hands Force is pushing Hands are 6 or

apart hands apart more inches
apart

Mosquito Mosquito is Any grimace or

hallucination buzzing nearby acknowledgemen
t

Posthypnotic Will not Three or fewer

amnesia remember items recalled
suggestions

Suggestibility and Susceptibility

According to Hilgard (1977), in an average testing session 10% of subjects will be
completely nonresponsive, 10% will pass all or nearly all items, and the rest will
fall in between.Susceptibility can be enhanced by increasing people’s expectations
(Spanos et al., 1991; Vickery & Kirsch, 1991).Highly susceptible subjects show
significantly more brain activity in the left side of the prefrontal cortex.Under
hypnosis the subject becomes more susceptible to suggestion than in his or her
normal state. Dialogue is directly related to how the hypnotist directly or indirectly
gives suggestions.
It is possible to induce alterations in the following areas:
 – Memory
– Perception
– Sensation
– Emotions
– Feeling
– Attitudes
– Beliefs
– Muscular states

Behaviour under Hypnosis

Hypnotised people are very suggestible and their behaviour will conform with
what the hypnotist tells them. Typical behaviour that can be induced include:
• Acting out imaginary scenes.
• Pretending to be an animal.
• Believing a limb cannot move or is insensitive to pain.
• Positive and negative hallucinations – seeing things that are not really there,
or not seeing objects that really are present.
• Posthypnotic suggestibility – a subject is given instructions under hypnosis
and follows them after returning to a non-hypnotised state.
• Posthypnotic amnesia – the subject is instructed to not remember any of the
suggested behaviour after leaving the hypnotic state.

Hypnosis and changes in perception

Does hypnosis really change a person’s perception during positive and negative
hallucinations?
Miller et al. (1973) tested this hypothesis using the Ponzo illusion. The Ponzo
illusion is an optical illusion that was first demonstrated by the Italian psychologist
Mario Ponzo (1882-1960) in 1913. He suggested that the human mind judges an
object's size based on its background. He showed this by drawing two identical
lines across a pair of converging lines, similar to railway tracks. The upper line
looks longer because we interpret the converging sides according to linear
perspective as parallel lines receding into the distance. In this context, we interpret
the upper line as though it were farther away, so we see it as longer – a farther
object would have to be longer than a nearer one for both to produce retinal images
of the same size.

Ponzo illusion

Miller et al’s study shows that under hypnosis the visual system was still
processing sensory information.The effect of hypnosis is solely on conscious
awareness.

Hypnosis and Involuntary Control

When under hypnosis people subjectively experience their actions to be
involuntary.
Can people be made to perform acts that are harmful to themselves or others?
Evans & Orne (1965) told hypnotized subjects that a cup of foaming liquid was
‘acid’. However, a control group who were asked to simply pretend that they were
hypnotised behaved in the same way. This behaviour can be explained in terms of
“destructive obedience”; i.e., psychological compliance with an authority figure
(Milgram, 1974). No evidence that hypnosis has a unique power to coerce people
against their will.

Why does hypnosis work?

There are two main competing explanations for how hypnosis works:
• Dissociation (state hypothesis) theories.
• Social Cognitive (non-state hypothesis) theories.

Dissociation theories of hypnosis

Dissociation theories view hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness. Best
known example is the neo-dissociation theory proposed by Ernst Hilgard (1978,
1991). Hilgard argued that cognition involves multiple systems of control which
are not all conscious at the same time. These systems are controlled and motivated
by a central ‘executive ego’.
 Neo-dissociation Theory
Hilgard argued that during hypnosis the hypnotist gains control of the executive
ego, and therefore has access to the various subsidiary control systems. Hypnosis
creates a division of awareness in which a person simultaneously experiences two
streams of consciousness that are cut off from one another. One stream responds to
the hypnotist’s suggestions, while the second stream remains a hidden observer of
everything that occurs.

‘Hidden Observer’ Phenomenon

In one study Hilgard (1977) hypnotised subjects and suggested that they would not
feel pain. Then placed arm in ice-cold water for 45 seconds and reported level of
pain experienced. For another group Hilgard said “Perhaps there is another part of
you that is more aware than your hypnotised part. If so, that part of you report the
amount of pain”

‘Hidden Observer’ Study (Hilgard, 1977)

Hilgard argued that dissociation between streams of consciousness accounts for

why hypnotism appears to produce involuntary actions. The subject intentionally
carries out the actions, but only the ‘hidden observer’ is aware of this. The primary
consciousness stream is cut off from this awareness and therefore the action
appears involuntary to the subject
Social Cognitive theories of hypnosis
Social cognitive theories deny that hypnosis produces an altered state of
consciousness. Instead argue that hypnotic experiences result from expectations of
people motivated to take on the role of being “hypnotised”. Subjects develop a
perceptual set – a readiness to respond to suggestions and to perceive hypnotic
experiences as real and involuntary. In a study by Orne (1959) subjects were told
prior to being hypnotised that a common feature of a trance is stiffening of the
muscles in the dominant hand. This information was fictitious. When the subjects
were hypnotised, 55% spontaneously displayed hand stiffening. No subjects in a
control group showed this behaviour.
Social Cognitive theories do not claim that hypnotised people are ‘pretending’.
Expectations can influence behaviour without conscious awareness (e.g., placebo
effects etc.)

Hypnosis and Emotional Health

Emotions and imagination, both part of the subconscious, are the underlining
factors responsible for most of our behavior. Our present behaviors are usually
linked to how our imagination has perceived a past event, and has tied certain
emotions to that event. Accessing the subconscious through hypnosis can help to
alleviate some or all symptoms associated with following difficulties people
experience:
 Anxiety
 Depression
 Sleep difficulty
 Social anxiety
 Panic
 Phobias
 PTSD
  Self-esteem
 Abusive relationships
 Addiction

Hypnosis and Physical Health

Although the exact mechanism by which hypnosis works is still unknown, it
appears that the effect that hypnosis has, results in an alteration of how the brain
communicates with the rest of your body through nerve impulses, hormones and
body chemicals, such as neuropeptides. This alteration is useful in helping control
some of the physiological processes that occur within the body. The following list
are examples of how hypnosis can be used to do this in order to help a person gain
control of their physical well-being:
 Treat pain during childbirth and reduce labor time
 Control pain during dental and surgical procedures
 Relieve symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
 Lower blood pressure
 Control nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
 Reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches, including migraines
 Treat and ease symptoms of asthma
 Hasten the healing of some skin diseases including warts, psoriasis and
atopic dermatitis

Self Hypnosis
The subconscious mind is like an obedient servant—it doesn’t think or reason—
and herein lies the power of self-hypnosis.
YOU have the power! Your subconscious mind will accept your suggestions
and make them a part of your reality! It tells your unconscious that will act on
these suggestions and your on your way to a more healthy lifestyle!
 It is important to remember that your subconscious mind does not know the
difference between good or bad suggestion—so BE POSITIVE! Don’t tell
yourself that you are fat, or ugly or unworthy… You should always remain
positive, constructive and beneficial! Otherwise, you will ACTUALLY start to
believe it, and you will project this out in your personality!

Hypnosis vs. Sleep and Dreams

 SLEEP:
While asleep, your brain automatically cycles down from the beta range into
alpha, and briefly into theta and delta. Then it cycles back up into alpha where you
spend most of your time sleeping and dreaming.
 HYPNOSIS:
A hypnotist takes advantage of the above natural phenomena. Hypnosis is a
technique that causes the brain to cycle down into alpha without going to sleep. In
alpha, the subconscious mind is open for suggestive input.

Brain Activity
Electroencephalography is the neurophysiologic measurement of the electrical
activity of the brain by recording from electrodes placed on the scalp or, in special
cases, within the subdural or the cerebral cortex.
The resulting traces are known as an electroencephalogram (EEG) and represent an
electrical signal (postsynaptic potentials) from a large number of neurons. The
EEG is a brain function test, but in clinical use it is a "gross correlate of brain
activity. Electrical currents are not measured, but rather voltage differences
between different parts of the brain.
 Beta: Alertness/ Concentration/ Cognition
12-40 Hz

EEG (electroencephalograph) 1 second sample. The signal is filtered to present only the
gamma waves.

You are wide-awake, alert. Your mind is sharp, focused.

It makes connections quickly, easily, and you're primed to do work that requires
your full attention. In the Beta state, neurons fire abundantly, in rapid succession,
helping you achieve peak performance. New ideas and solutions to problems flash
like lightning into your mind. Beta training is one of the frequencies that
biofeedback therapists use to treat Attention Deficit Disorder.
Beta-centered programs help you prepare to take an exam, play sports, give a
presentation, analyze and organize information and other activities where mental
alertness and high levels of concentration are key to your success. Beta waves
range between 13-40 HZ. The Beta state is associated with peak concentration,
heightened alertness, hand-eye coordination and visual acuity.
Alpha: Relaxation/ Visualization/ Creativity
6-12 Hz

EEG (electroencephalograph) 1 second sample. The signal is filtered to present only the
gamma waves.
When you are truly relaxed, your brain activity slows from the rapid patterns of
Beta into the more gentle waves of Alpha. Your awareness expands.
Fresh creative energy begins to flow. Fears vanish. You experience a liberating
sense of peace and well-being. In biofeedback, Alpha training is most commonly
recommended for the treatment of stress. Alpha waves range between 7-12 HZ.
This is a place of deep relaxation, but not quite meditation. In Alpha, we begin to
access the wealth of creativity that lies just below our conscious awareness - it is
the gateway, the entry point that leads into deeper states of consciousness. Alpha is
also the home of the window frequency known as the Schuman Resonance - the
resonant frequency of the earth's electromagnetic field.
Theta: Meditation/ Intuition/ Memory
4-7 Hz

EEG (electroencephalograph) 1 second sample. The signal is filtered to present only the
gamma waves.

Going deeper into relaxation, you enter the elusive and mysterious Theta state
where brain activity slows almost to the point of sleep, but not quite.
Theta is the brain state where magic happens in the crucible of your own
neurological activity. Theta brings forward heightened receptivity, flashes of
dreamlike imagery, inspiration, and your long-forgotten memories. Theta can bring
you deep states of meditation. A sensation of "floating." And, because it is an
expansive state, in Theta, you may feel your mind expand beyond the boundaries
of your body. Theta rests directly on the threshold of your subconscious. In
biofeedback, it is most commonly associated with the deepest levels of meditation.
Theta also plays an important part in behavior modification programs and has been
used in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Finally, Theta is an ideal state
for super-learning, re-programming your mind, dream recall, and self-hypnosis.
Theta waves range between 4-7 HZ. Theta is one of the more elusive and
extraordinary realms we can explore. It is also known as the twilight state which
we normally only experience fleetingly as we rise up out of the depths of delta
upon waking, or drifting off to sleep.
In Theta, we are in a waking dream, vivid imagery flashes before the mind's eye
and we are receptive to information beyond our normal conscious awareness.
Theta has also been identified as the gateway to learning and memory. Theta
meditation increases creativity, enhances learning, reduces stress and awakens
intuition and other extrasensory perception skills.
Delta: Detached Awareness/ Healing/ Sleep
1-4 Hz

EEG (electroencephalograph) 1 second sample. The signal is filtered to present only the
gamma waves.

Long, slow, undulating.

Delta is the slowest of all four brain wave frequencies. Most commonly associated
with deep sleep, certain frequencies in the Delta range also trigger the release of
Human Growth Hormone so beneficial for healing and regeneration. This is why
sleep - deep restorative sleep - the kind that Delta frequencies help induce is so
essential to the healing process.
Delta is the brain wave signal of the subconscious, the seat from which intuition
arises. Delta is not only ideal for sleep and deep regeneration potential, but also
when you want to access your unconscious activity and help that wellspring of
information flow to your conscious mind for clearing and for empowerment. Delta
waves range between 0-4 HZ.
Sources
 www.brainsync.com
 www.toolsforwellness.com
 http://en.wikipedia.org
 http://skepdic.com/falsememory.html
 science.howstuffworks.com/hypnosis.htm
 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypnosis
 http://www.fmsfonline.org/hypnosis.html
 http://www.institute-shot.com/hypnosis_and_health.htm
 http://hypnosis.com/whatishypnosis_history.aspx
Submitted To:
Sir Irfan

Submitted By:
Farhat Yasmeen
07-arid-1172
4th Semester
M.Sc Zoology (Eve.)