The strange mystic waves his pocket watch back and forth and repeats the phrase, “I’m getting sleepy, I’m so sleepy,” giving him absolute command over his subject. This is not how hypnosis actually works, but it is how it is often portrayed in pop culture. Some clinicians and hypnosis educators promote harmful myths about hypnosis.
Stephen Jay Lin, a professor of psychology at Binghamton University, State University of New York, is an expert in hypnosis and has made significant contributions to the justice system with his insights into the practice. Lin believes that hypnosis has many useful clinical applications, but that myths prevent it from reaching its full potential.
In a recently published paper, BJPsych progress, “reconciling myths and misconceptions about hypnosis with scientific evidence,” say Madeline Stein and Devin Terhuen and colleagues at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College. Addressed many errors and misconceptions regarding the characteristics and practice of hypnosis. . These are some of the myths that are widely believed and commonly disseminated in popular culture.
A hypnotized person cannot resist suggestions.
It is believed that a hypnotized person exhibits “blind obedience,” automatically following the hypnotist’s suggestions. However, contrary to the media-reinforced concept of what hypnosis is, individuals do not lose control of their actions during hypnosis. you did it And that hypnosis can be used to control someone. In fact, people may resist or object to hypnotic suggestions. Their experience of control during hypnosis depends on their intentions and expectations regarding whether they retain voluntary control.
Hypnosis is a “special state”
Hypnosis is misunderstood as a “special state” in which our defense mechanisms are lowered and hypnosis allows us to enter the depths of our subconscious mind due to “a unique state of physical relaxation and conscious unconsciousness.” This often happens. However, people can respond to hypnotic suggestions even while paying attention and riding a stationary bike. Apart from the contradiction in terminology, “conscious unconscious” is an inaccurate description. Because during hypnosis, even the most suggestible person remains fully conscious and aware of their surroundings. It is more accurate to think of hypnosis as a series of procedures that use verbal suggestions to adjust consciousness, perception, and cognition, rather than as unnecessarily evoking “special states.”
People are either susceptible to hypnosis or they are not.
Responses to hypnosis are relatively stable over time. However, it is inaccurate to think that people are either hypnotized or not. People vary widely in their responsiveness, often responding to some suggestions but not others. Still, most people are susceptible to hypnosis and can benefit greatly from therapeutic suggestions.
Reaction to proposals is nothing but compliance or falsification
Since the actions suggested during hypnosis seem far from everyday life, the question inevitably arises whether the hypnotic reactions are real. However, neuroimaging studies have revealed that the effects of hypnotic suggestion activate brain regions (e.g., visual processing) that coincide with the suggested event (e.g., object hallucinations). These findings provide convincing evidence that hypnotic effects are expressed at the neurophysiological level, consistent with people’s reports.
Hypnosis requires advanced techniques
One common misconception is that of mesmerists, hypnotists who are like magicians with special influence who can “hypnotize” anyone. This widespread belief is a complete myth. In practice, hypnotic induction and specific suggestions require special skills and abilities that go beyond those needed to manage experimental or clinical procedures, such as basic social interaction and the ability to establish rapport. No ability required. However, hypnosis should only be practiced by professionals trained in hypnosis.
Age regression through hypnosis can bring back accurate memories from the distant past
Television shows and movies often feature how people can recall highly accurate memories from distant past lives under hypnosis. However, research suggests the opposite view. When researchers check the accuracy of the memories of people who “age-regressed” in earlier times (such as the 10th century) against factual information from the suggested time period, they find that information is almost always wrong. I understand. What people report generally matches the information provided by experimenters regarding their presumed past life experiences and identities (e.g., different race, culture, gender). These findings suggest that “reminiscence” reflects participants’ expectations, fantasies, and beliefs about personal characteristics and events during a particular historical period.
