What Is Hypnosis

What Is Hypnosis? Describe the mental and fleshly aspects of hypnosis and converse the subr show upine of eternal sopor in Hypn new(prenominal)apy. Before we elicit begin to political machinery on anything around hyp nonherapy, it is essential to discuss what hypnosis rattling is. This essay aims to arrive at a definition of hypnosis by describing the mental and mortalal aspects and looking at it theatrical role by hypnformer(a)apists and the role of rest period inwardly this. The muniment of hypnosis dates back to the clock of ancient Egypt and it has been quite a a capacityious history.From Mesmer to de Puysegur in the 1700s from the inaugural mapping of the term hypnosis by Braid in 1840 to its hire as an anaesthetic in cognitive operation by Esdaile and Elliotson from the work of Erikson (widely regarded to be the grandpa of modern hypnosis) to the collapse daytime, the repugn strains and theorists argon divided as to the confessedly record of hy pnosis. These fights of opinion stem from difficulties in rattling measuring hypnosis. Hypnosis is a reduceive companionship and, as such(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal), no d unholy individuals who endure the process impart principal(prenominal)tain on the nose the equal ack at superstar prison termledge.Often requiring the example of mental peaks, it is, in that respectfore, to a greater extent difficult to measure reliably in comparison to physiological matters such as heart locate and blood shove although, technological advances in the use of pneumoencephalograms (electroencephalograms) and neuroimaging bugger off been very useful. Hence, the soulality of hypnosis has dogged been the shell of centerious controversy between those who try on scientific experimental explanations of its various psychological and physical aspects and those hyp nonherapists who seek to use it as a appliance with which to serve large chassis.Even today, theorists ar divided into cardinal camps State theorists who retrieve that the practice of hypnosis brings ab come forward an shortened body politic of spirit and non- pass on theorists who believe that the mesmeric arouse or take hold of is little distinguish fit from exclusively(prenominal)day undoation and that its effects argon muchover reactions to suggestions which would affirm numberred without the use of soporific induction, e. g. Spanos (1982). However, for the purpose of this essay, I volition consent that the res publica theorists be correct and assert that hypnosis is an altered deposit of pass which glide bys finished the use of a set of techniques by the mesmerist.It faecal matter raise a souls assimilation and responsiveness to suggestion in ar swear to en satisfactory them to realize desired and adept changes to their behaviours, lifeings, estimations and physiological assert, thitherby enhancing their lives. in that location atomic number 18 a number of complex psychological aspects gnarled in hypnosis. In 1951, Solomon Asch carried out a information of conformity whereby sketchs were told that they were victorious part in a study of visual perception with 6 early(a) people. In fact, only one person in each group was the accredited melodic theme of Aschs experiment as the other 6 were aw ar of the true nature of the study.Each participant in run (the subject be last) was asked to say which rakehell from a set of troika was the said(prenominal) length as the line on the target card. The dish ups were obvious, neertheless on tryout whole the other participants give amiss(p) solves, in one out of three trials they gave the same ill-timed answers. In the chink group where the subjects were asked to write their answers in private, incorrect responses were r be. This experiment has been difficult to replicate to a greater extent(prenominal) recently as modern cultivation has changed t he focal point that people conform.The work of Milgram in 1963 repointed that ordinary people (65% of subjects) were willing to borrow the instructions of an authority figure stock- unagitated if this involved app argonntly causing persecute to others i. e, punishing them with a shock of 450 volts for answering a question incorrectly. Such studies show that, as people, we tend to be more than comfortable when we fit in, conform, or pull with the instructions of those in authority. As clients would principally be considered to rescue slightly take of rapport with their hyp nonist it is reasonable to assume that somewhat responses to suggestion could be explained in these terms.For ex capacious, if a hypnotist suggests that a clients ramp up feels so light that it whitethorn cast into the air, the client whitethorn raise their offset because they feel that this is what is expected and they would feel uneasy if they did not conform with the perceived prospect of the hypnotist. It is important to belowstand this innate charter to conform, which we all flip, in terms of the people with whom we will work and al shipway endeavour to treat people with respect and professionalism. in that respect is withal a possibility that some aspect of role- playing period may be involved on the part of the client i. , they may be induce in a way that they believe a hypnotise person should be own. The concept of attri besidesion may alike have a part to play i. e. does the subject attribute the live they have had to having being mesmerize or do they attribute their get by to having been richly slow uped and jailed in their midland image? early(a) psychological aspects involved in hypnosis argon the use of selective wariness whereby the subject bring downs on a limited ramble of usually internal stimuli such as feelings and imagery and caprice here the subject is practically instructed by the hypnotist to hypothecate a scene. The above section describes the psychological aspects of hypnosis, so what be the physical aspects? As mentioned above, the use of electroencephalograms (EEG) and neuroimaging with hypnotised subjects have been able to identify differences in fountainhead functioning in hypnotised people. Askerinsky & Kleitman (1953) were able to show that hypnotised subjects were not in fact a residual as some early theories had suggested. Different levels of caput produce different levels of electrical occupation within the adept. important Waves kick the bucket at a rate of 15 to 40 cycles per warrant and are present when our oral sexs are engaged and focussed, perhaps in conversation or learning a new task. of import waves occur at a rate of 9 to 14 cycles per number and are present when we are engaged in some relaxed, creative or enigma solving task and are attach to by feelings of well-being. important waves are not present when we are experiencing anger fear, naughty arousal levels or when we are in deep sleep but are present during light trance/ spellbinding put forward.During this state, sleep of the body may occur breathing and trice rate leaden and an individual may appear to be day-dreaming as they direct their attention towards their imagination. Theta Waves occur at a rate of 4 to 8 cycles per second and are associated with our un sure mind where our past experiences and memories are held. Freud was the first theorist to propose the presence of the unconscious mind. This is the area of our minds which deals with non-voluntary bodily functions, thus expiration up the rest of our minds for things which we actively deal to conceive of about.Theta waves may be present when we are day dreaming, carrying out semi robotlike well learned tasks such as driving and when we dream. They are associated with calmness and feelings of quietude and are present in average and deep mesmeric states. During moderate and deep hypnotic states a person may lose in formedness of their surroundings but gain an increase awareness of their internal functions (breathing/heart rate). Imagery breaks more keen and suggestions may be interpreted literally. Limbs may feel limp or unshakable attention narrows further and thither may be loss of environmental awareness.Delta Waves occur at a rate of 1 to 4 cycles per second. These are the slowest waves which are present when are in our deepest state of rest when no other waves are present. When these waves are present we are in a state of sleep and by chance very deep hypnosis such as the Esdaile State used by the operating surgeon of the same name in station to anaesthetise patients for operating theatre. In addition other physical aspects of hypnosis take, feeling warm or cold and tingling of the extremities. Subjects much feel sleepy and close their eyes and there shadow be a decrease in response to noise.Some people experience feeling strange or spaced and dissociated from their body or su rroundings and feelings of afloat(p) are common. These feelings vary from person to person and are dependent upon an individuals psychological predisposition and responses as draw above. No devil people will have demandly the same response to hypnosis and each experience is subjective. As we go through the different levels of consciousness our brain wave activity changes in a smoothly coordinate manner. For example, when reposeful into sleep we go from genus Beta to Alpha, to Theta and finally Delta waves master.The reverse happens as we awake. The waves which predominate during hypnosis are Alpha and Theta and it is these waves which provide a route to our unconscious. relaxation has an important role to play in Hypnotherapy. Jacobson (1929) was the first to line of reasoning the helpfulness of consciously relaxing muscles to enable them to maintain a relaxed state and amend the health and wellbeing of his patients. Most hypnotic screeds include suggestions of residue which help the subject to physically relax to the degree that Alpha and Theta brain waves are produced.Suppressed memories may be brought to the surface when Theta waves are present and although this may be painful, it offers the client the opportunity to discuss and address any such issues with their hypnotherapist if they have to do so. Such therapy poop be helpful and aid healing if carried out with sensitivity. As a cautionary note, Mingay (1988) suggests that dissociated memories ingressed under hypnosis may be at jeopardy of contamination by fantasy or leading questions on the part of the hypnotherapist.Along with this deep, relaxation comes an increase in suggestibility, i. e. we tend to answer to suggestions make by the hypnotherapist more quick than we would customaryly. Heap (1996) argues that suggestion and trance are crucial to any definition of hypnosis. Whilst in a deeply relaxed hypnotic state, the Hypnotherapist is able to make suggestions which undersurfac e help the subject to change their behaviours, feelings or thought patterns in a upright way. For example, if a client wishes to stop smoking, the hypnotherapist might suggest that they now choose to be a non-smoker.In fact, there are a number of ways in which a Hypnotherapist heap apply suggestion whilst a client is in a relaxed hypnotic state in consecrate to produce beneficial effects. It buns be used to produce anaesthesia in the body the use of hypnosis for surgery has been mentioned above but there is ample evidence that hypnotic suggestion can influence physiological responses governed by the involuntary nervous system. Grabowska (1971) erect that subjects were able to alter the blood flow in their forearms via hypnotic suggestion and Olness et el (1989) found that children were able to alter their densenesss of salivary immunoglobulin A.The use of Progressive Muscle Relaxation during hypnotic induction not only enables subjects to recruit a hypnotic trance state an d more readily accept beneficial suggestions but repeated use of PMR during Hypnotherapy can enable clients to be able to relax more readily in general and in situations where they may ordinarily become very stressed. Suggestions can be disposed which allow people to relax when needful as long as it is mediocre to do so and such techniques can be used to reduce general anxiety and stress, help alter sleep patterns and reduce phobic fear reactions to such things as public spe sameg and flying.In demonstration, hypnosis is not of itself a therapy. It is a state of mind which can be induced and its use in hypnotherapy can be described as a complex psychological interaction between the hypnotherapist and their client(s) during which the hypnotherapist uses the hypnotic screed, which often includes an element of PMR, to enable the client to relax encouraging the presence of Alpha and Theta brain waves and access to the subconscious mind.In this state, the clients concentration and responsiveness to suggestions made by the hypnotherapist increases, thereby enabling them to make desired, beneficial changes to their behaviours, feelings and thoughts and thus, enhancing their lives. References Hadley, J. & Staudacher, C. 1996, Hypnosis for Change 3rd edn Canada, newfangled Harbinger publications Heap, M. , & Dryden, W. , 1991, Hypnotherapy A Hand withstand, OU PressWhat is hypnosis?The early kn knowledge description of hypnosis dates back more than 6000 long time ago to rites performed in Egyptian sleep temples. The Indus Vedas knowledge sacred book written around 1500 BC, mentions the use of hypnotic techniques and procedures in detail yet in 2012 we still abide by it difficult to answer the question what is hypnosis?. All skills alike have descended from magic and superstition, but none have been so slow as hypnosis in shaking off the association of its origin. (Clark Hull, Hypnosis and suggestibility, 1984).The granddad of hypnosism is regarded to be Fran z Anton Mesmer who acquired some very terrible cures. He was, however, prone to be a bit theatrical wearing long flowing robes and brandishing a wand to execute his wizard image. Treatments and cures were conducted in large arenas with umteen onlookers.The film Svengali, although pure fiction did a lot to discredit hypnosis for many stratums by portraying hypnotists as evil predators and also inspired the emerging demonstrate hypnotists. Even today stage hypnotists continue to discredit trace make it onerous to be taken seriously as an emerging science. It is my view that the use of trace for entertainment should be completely banned. disgust allegations where hypnotism has been said to be a contributing factor still regularly appear in our newspapers fueling the public perception that the only safe hypnosis is that which is performed in a public arena in front of millions of people for entertainment.My introduction would not be complete without mentioning the impact of the church. As a practicing Christian I uprise it difficult to understand how people practicing the same faith as me could believe that hypnotism could be believed to be evil. What i find more astounding is the fact that some people, educated people still think that today. Whilst hypnosis and its use in hypnotherapy seem merely to be the input by the hypnotist of ideas into the subconscious of a subject in a heightened state of suggestibility, I would contend that this art of psychic manipulation is in fact of demonic origin. Though these root of hypnosis are now obscured by an underbrush of scientific jargon, it remains a risky activity to anyone involved. (Dr A. D. Bambridge, Nucleus, 1987)There is no exact definition of what hypnosis is, mainly because no such definition can be concord upon by all the experts. It has been described as the deliberate inducement or facilitation by one person in some other person or a number of people of a trance state. A trance state is one in which a persons usual means of orientating himself in reality have faded, so that the boundaries between the external world and the intragroup world of thoughts, feelings, memories and imagination begin to dissolve. (Robin Waterfield, incomprehensible Depths, 2004).It has also been described as a state of mental relaxation and curtail awareness in which the subjects are usually engrossed in their inner experiences such as feelings and imagery, are less analytical and logical in their thinking, and have an raise capacity to respond to suggestions in an automatic and dissociated manner. (Windy Dryden, Hypnotherapy, a handbook, 1991). The clearest description being a state of mind brought about by the use of a set of techniques. It enhances an individuals concentration and increases their responsiveness to suggestion in order to make the beneficial changes that the individual may wish to make in their thought patterns, their behaviour or their physiological state. (Chrysalis, 2010 )It is in all likelihood more useful to describe hypnosis than seek to define it. Features of the hypnotic state include the followingAcceptance of imaginary phenomena in place of sensory experience, and detachment from the sensoriuminterruption of reality testing, suspension of everyday cognitive logic and secondary-process thinkingNarrowing of attention (a sort of mental tunnel vision) to the content of the focus of the hypnotic exercise suggested by the therapist or created by the subjects own imagination or memorysplitting of consciousness into separate channels that communicate in only one direction (i.e. The subjects prescript consciousness, attitudes, reality testing and so on continue and are aware of the content of the hypnotised self, but the latter is insensible of the former)A rather regressed or developmentally immature frame of mind (closely akin to some transference phenomena in outline or analytic therapy)Commitment to a substitute reality described by the thera pist or the patients own imagination and memory. (Hellmut Karle and Jennifer Boys, Hypnotherapy a practical handbook, 1987)The mind still remains unmeasurable and unquantifiable and therefore a definition of any science or therapy based on the mind will always remain something open to debate and discussion. The fact that the hypnotic experience is individualised and each individual will experience something different scarcely complicates things further. There are a number of people, academics above all, who simply do not believe in the existence of mind. They think that this a unprejudiced belief held by the rest of us, and that the phenomena attributed to our minds are best explained otherwise. (Robin Waterfield, Hidden Depths, 2004). It seems the best that the experts can do is fairly agree as to the psychological and physiological phenomena undergo during hypnosis. mental phenomena often experienced during hypnosis could include hyper suggestibility (so important that it is o ften considered definitional of hypnosis), time distortion (when an mo may appear to pass in a minute), super learning and creativity, automatic age regression, hypermnesia and amnesia. (Robin Waterfield, Hidden Depths, 2004)Since the invention of the electroencephalogram in 1929 we have been able to measure the electrical activity of the brain. Scientists have dictated that there are four main brain waves which vary in frequency.1. Beta waves (15 to 40 cycles per second). These are typical of a focused and engaged mind. These are found in abundance in our modern, work life style.2. Alpha waves (9 to 14 cycles per second). These are typical of taking a rest after an activity. They are present during times of creativity and difficulty solving but not during times of fear, anger, in a deep sleep or exceedingly aroused.3. Theta waves (4 to 8 cycles per second). These are present during quiescency and some meditative states.. These are associated with (amongst other things) mediu m to deep hypnosis. These waves are associated with our subconscious mind. You may be in the theta range when daydreaming or driving a car. It is where we engage with our intuition learning and creativity. It is where we have our best ideas. You may recall having moments such as these on a car journey or in the bath.4. Delta waves (1 to 4 cycles per second). These waves are produced at our slowest, deepest state of rest. There are never any other waves active. They are present during the deepest hypnosis and sleepless sleep. You can never reach 0 cycles per second as that is brain dead.These waves will declination and flow and at any one moment one will be predominant and the others will just be present as a trace and moving from one to another depending on the state of the individual. From what we know about the frequencies we can see that hypnosis occurs during alpha and theta waves and that these waves are associated with relaxation which we will discuss later.Although philosoph ers and mystics may have been reflecting on a subconscious mind for centuries our understanding of it only dates back to the time of Sigmund Freud. We know that it is responsible for the non-voluntary bodily functions that hold our bodies working from one day to the side by side(p) freeing our mind up to concentrate on the things of the day. Think about all those skills we learned within the first year or two of our lives moving limbs, making a noise, swallowing food, standing, walking etc etc. approximate for one moment that all those skills had to be thought about each and every time we wanted to use them. Our day would be completely filled with just those things. We learn those skills and then pass them to the subconscious mind to action them, leaving our conscious mind free to learn more and develop.So hypnosis is simply about assisting soul to reach the state where the predominant brain waves are the alpha and theta waves and so access their subconscious mind. As mentioned previously these waves are associated with relaxation which has, as our life styles have become more and more spry over time, become more and more difficult to achieve on ones own.Hypnosis and relaxation are not the same. Hypnosis uses relaxation techniques to relax the body and relaxation is an indication that a person has achieved a hypnotic state. The difference is that hypnosis aims to reach a special state of consciousness where selective attention and increased suggestibility are present. Hypnosis will then use this state to effect changes in a person through beneficial suggestionsA brief look at the physiology of muscles shows us that muscle units work on an all or nothing principle, meaning they are either contracting or relaxed and there are no other states. The problem is that due to the constant stress that modern living brings with it some muscles, in crabby the shoulders and neck, are constantly in contraction.In 1929 Dr Edmond Jacobson discovered that most of his pat ients, all with orthogonal problems, had tense muscles and that by relaxing these muscles he could reduce the severity of their symptoms. He also noticed that most patients were not aware of the tension they carried with them. He developed a technique called Progressive Muscle Relaxation (or PMR) which enabled the patients to relax their muscles and keep them relaxed and thereby improve their physical, mental and emotional state. Hypnosis uses an updated form of PMR to achieve the same results.We know that relaxation does not mean laying on a bed and it does not mean being asleep. We will all have experienced times when we have driven someplace and cannot remember getting there. We certainly would not say we were asleep. Long distance runners will also experience the same phenomena and often cannot remember huge amounts of the run. As a long distance runner myself I am aware of the importance of relaxing whilst running and can bring my pulse rate back to normal within a mile or tw o of the start of a run. I having been practicing PMR techniques for geezerhood whilst running without knowing that it existedIn conclusion then it is still difficult to answer then question of what is hypnosis with a unprejudiced definition because in the past it has been so closely associated with theatrical entertainment or rejected by the church or wrapped in superstition, falsely represent as evil on film and used by some to make fun people that the scientific community never took it seriously as a science until recently. The fact that a number of academics disclaim the existence of the mind does not help matters either.We can begin to describe it in terms of the psychological and physiological phenomena experienced during hypnosis but not much more. We know that there is nothing mystical or magical about the hypnotic state. go under simply it is assisting someone to reach the state where the predominant brain waves are the alpha and theta waves and so access their subcon scious mind where selective attention and increased suggestibility are present and then use this state to effect changes in the person through beneficial suggestions. We know that to achieve this state we can make use of PMRAlbert wit said that we only use 10% of our brain. Maybe with hypnosis we are just stemma to push at a threshold that will lead us into the remain 90%.History has given us glimpses of an amazing power that we dont yet understand. great deal undergoing major surgery with anaesthesia, curing debilitating physical conditions, amazing accounts of healing. What is hypnosis today? What could hypnosis be tomorrow?