PowerPoint® Presentation by Jim Foley Consciousness and the Two-Track Mind PowerPoint® Presentation by Jim Foley © 2013 Worth Publishers

Module 9: Hypnosis

What we need you to focus your attention on Defining Hypnosis What are some of the powers and limits of hypnosis? Hypnosis as socially influenced behavior Hypnosis as divided consciousness No animation.

A Possible State of Consciousness: HYPNOSIS “Your arm may soon feel so light that it rises…” Text definition: Hypnosis is a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur. Alternate definition: Hypnosis is a cooperative social action in which one person is in a state of being likely to respond to suggestions from another person. This state has been called heightened suggestibility as well as a trance. Controversy: does this social interaction really require an altered state of consciousness? Click to reveal all text. The following comments flesh out and modify the definition. Implied in this definition of hypnosis, stated elsewhere in the text, but not stated in this definition: that the subject is showing some compliant response to these suggestions. If the subject was just walking around or laughing, it would fit the above words but would it be hypnosis? Attempted hypnosis, maybe. That the subject is in some state which at least looks different than someone participating in a conversation. For example, suggestions are made in psychotherapy, but only a tiny percentage of psychotherapy sessions involve hypnosis. That both people are entering into the social interaction willingly; this clarifies the point that someone can not trick you or force you into hypnosis, or “make” you do strange things.) Controversies, also covered in upcoming slides but mentioned here in case you decide to delete those slides: What does this state of heightened suggestibility depend upon? subject qualities (some people are more easily hypnotized) hypnotist behavior (does the swinging watch really do it) role expectation (I’ve agreed to hypnotism; I should comply as a subject) Is this state of heightened suggestibility truly a different state of consciousness?

Types of Hypnotic Suggestions perceptions The subject may be led into changes in: (“The headache is fading away.”) behavior (“Your arm might rise by itself.”) emotions (“You are feeling more relaxed and confident.”) Automatic animation. All of these types of suggestions can of course occur without hypnosis; for some people, being in the hypnotic state/situation makes them more likely to follow the suggestions. attitudes (“I get nutrition from food, and get comfort from friends.”) memory (“You got lost in a mall as a child.”)

Induction Into Hypnosis The Highly Hypnotizable 20 Percent How do some people get so hypnotized that they can have no reaction to ammonia under their noses? • These people seem to be more easily absorbed in imaginative activities. • They are able to focus and to lose themselves in fantasy. • The hypnotic induction method may happen to work just right. Hypnotic induction, the inducing of a hypnotic state, is the process by which a hypnotist leads someone into the state of heightened suggestibility. A swinging watch and recitation of the words “you are getting sleepy” are not necessary. Click to reveal all text and sidebar. Induction could simply consist of a string of suggestions to slowly tune out distractions and gradually comply with more suggestions.

Benefits of Hypnosis for Some People: What Hypnosis Cannot Do: work when people refuse to cooperate bestow ‘superhuman’ abilities or strength accurately boost recall of forgotten events (it is more likely to implant false recall) blocking awareness of pain, even enough for surgery without anesthesia reducing obesity, anxiety, and hypertension improving concentration and performance Click to reveal all bullets in each column.

Theories Explaining Hypnosis Divided Consciousness Theory Hypnosis is a special state of dissociated (divided) consciousness of our dual-track mind. Social Influence Theory Hypnotic subjects may simply be imaginative people who go along with the “subject” role they have agreed to play. Automatic animation.