AlteredStates Altered States Hypnosis

Some states of consciousness don’t occur naturally and must be induced (brought about) in some way.Some states of consciousness don’t occur naturally and must be induced (brought about) in some way. These includeThese include –hypnotic states –meditative states –and drug-induced states

Hypnosis A state of heightened suggestibilityA state of heightened suggestibility –Could produce increased responsiveness to suggestion that could in turn lead to changes in behavior and thinking –An interaction in which one person makes suggestions about perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors, and another person follows those suggestions Often will go into a trance like, relaxed stateOften will go into a trance like, relaxed state

Hypnotic Induction The process in which someone creates a state of hypnosisThe process in which someone creates a state of hypnosis –possibly using a soft voice and a series of suggestions

Not everyone can be hypnotized, and some people are more hypnotizable than others.Not everyone can be hypnotized, and some people are more hypnotizable than others. Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility ScaleStanford Hypnotic Susceptibility ScaleStanford Hypnotic Susceptibility ScaleStanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale –test used to see who is a good subject for hypnosis

What Should We Believe?? Hypnosis – Fact or Fiction?

Hypnosis Can Hypnosis Can’t Vs.

Hypnosis Can Relax people and help with focusRelax people and help with focus

Hypnosis Can’t Work equally effectively for everyoneWork equally effectively for everyone

Hypnosis Can Produce a type of anesthesia and treat a range of psychological and medical problemsProduce a type of anesthesia and treat a range of psychological and medical problems AnalgesiaAnalgesia –(pain control) If you don’t think you are in pain you may not be – placebo effectIf you don’t think you are in pain you may not be – placebo effect –Try putting your hand in a bucket of ice –are you cold? Or in pain?

Hypnosis Can’t Force people to do things against their willForce people to do things against their will Hypnotic SuggestionsHypnotic Suggestions –hypnosis works best when making suggestions that the subject will follow –so sometimes hypnosis can lead people do things they otherwise wouldn’t –but so too can powerful suggestions of any kind

Hypnosis Can Cause hallucinations and distortions in sensory perceptionCause hallucinations and distortions in sensory perception

Hypnosis Can’t Make people act in ways that would normally be beyond their physical or mental abilitiesMake people act in ways that would normally be beyond their physical or mental abilities No it can’t make you smarter or stronger

HypnosisCan Hypnosis Can Reduce InhibitionsReduce Inhibitions

Hypnosis Can’t Reliably increase the accuracy of memoriesReliably increase the accuracy of memories Psychologists are skeptical of hypnotically enhanced memoriesPsychologists are skeptical of hypnotically enhanced memories –often misinformation –many courts will not allow testimony from hypnotized witnesses –forensic hypnosis

Hypnosis Can Cause changes in behavior after the hypnosis has endedCause changes in behavior after the hypnosis has ended Posthypnotic SuggestionsPosthypnotic Suggestions –a suggestion that is made during hypnosis and is carried out when the person is no longer hypnotized –“planting suggestions” often used to stop smoking or to lose weightoften used to stop smoking or to lose weight

Hypnosis Can’t Allow people to actually experience past events or livesAllow people to actually experience past events or lives

Posthypnotic Amnesia People cannot recall what took place during the hypnotic sessionPeople cannot recall what took place during the hypnotic session When hypnotized, people are instructed to forget what happened during hypnosis, and later claim to have no memory of the hypnotic episodeWhen hypnotized, people are instructed to forget what happened during hypnosis, and later claim to have no memory of the hypnotic episode

Why Does Hypnosis Seem to Work? Social Influence Theory –powerful social influences can lead to a state of hypnosis –A suggestion leads to a response –Someone important says you look and sound sick and you then start to feel sick –Sometimes called the role and belief expectancy theory In hypnosis, people want to be influenced and therefore simply behave as they think they are expected toIn hypnosis, people want to be influenced and therefore simply behave as they think they are expected to

Why Does Hypnosis Seem to Work? Divided Consciousness Theory –during hypnosis, our consciousness splits or divides ( dissociation of consciousness) –one part responds to the outside world and the other part observes but doesn’t participate Hidden ObserverHidden Observer example – one part feels pain and one part communicates with the outside worldexample – one part feels pain and one part communicates with the outside world –therefore no outwardly reaction to pain

Hypnotic Techniques Fixed-gaze induction or eye fixationFixed-gaze induction or eye fixation –the method you often see in movies, –the hypnotist waves a pocket watch in front of the subject –Basic idea is to get subject to focus on an object so intently that he or she tunes out any other stimuli. –As the subject focuses, the hypnotist talks to him or her in a low tone, lulling the subject into relaxation.

Rapid The idea of this method is to overload the mind with sudden, firm commands.The idea of this method is to overload the mind with sudden, firm commands. –If the commands are forceful, and the hypnotist is convincing enough, the subject will surrender his or her conscious control over the situation the type used in stage showsthe type used in stage shows often works because of social pressure or influenceoften works because of social pressure or influence

Progressive relaxation and imagery This is the hypnosis method most commonly employed by psychiatrists.This is the hypnosis method most commonly employed by psychiatrists. By speaking to the subject in a slow, soothing voice, the hypnotist gradually brings on complete relaxation and focus, easing the subject into full hypnosis.By speaking to the subject in a slow, soothing voice, the hypnotist gradually brings on complete relaxation and focus, easing the subject into full hypnosis.

Loss of balance This method creates a loss of equilibrium using slow, rhythmicrocking.This method creates a loss of equilibrium using slow, rhythmicrocking. When a mother rocks a baby to sleepWhen a mother rocks a baby to sleep

Can you be hypnotized?