What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a trancelike state of mind where one has a heightened focus and concentration. Steven Walkin, P.h.D, explains hypnosis as a focused state of attention that can be focused internally or externally. Walkin explains that people experience hypnosis every day. "You've been in a trance if you've ever been absorbed in a great film, lost in a good book, or swept up in a symphony. You've been in a trance if you've ever stared in fascination at a sunset or a passing cloud. You've also been in a trance if you've ever stared out of the window, daydreaming about something which happened twenty years ago," because during each of these scenarios, one puts every other sense into the background and focuses their attention on one main thing. Dr. Walkin defines hypnosis as "a method for focusing the attention and turning it inwards."
Hypnosis and pop culture
Many misconceptions of hypnosis and its use for control come from portrayals of hypnosis through America's pop culture. Think about it--to most (including me) when hypnosis comes to mind, so does a picture that looks a little something like the one on the left.
An example of how we get our perceptions from hypnosis in pop culture is the movie The Woman in Green (1945) which is a Sherlock Holmes movie and involves the investigation of strange murders. Holmes discovers that these murders are accomplished through hypnosis by a strange woman. Victims are hypnotized and controlled to kill others. This wouldn't happen because the mind would reject any act that went against one's personal values when hypnotized.
Another example of hypnosis being used for control as portrayed in pop culture is from The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers. King Theoden is being controlled under a spell that greatly represents aspects of what most to believe is from hypnotism. He is controlled by Saruman and Wormtongue and released by Gandalf. Theoden is under a spell, but the spell greatly represents hypnotism. He is also cured by Gandalf through a process that represents hypnotism, however, this curing process better represents the real effects of hypnotism: curation and heightened awareness.
Even in children's movies, like Aladdin, The sultan is hypnotized and controlled by jafar and his magic staff (starting at 3:00)
An example of how we get our perceptions from hypnosis in pop culture is the movie The Woman in Green (1945) which is a Sherlock Holmes movie and involves the investigation of strange murders. Holmes discovers that these murders are accomplished through hypnosis by a strange woman. Victims are hypnotized and controlled to kill others. This wouldn't happen because the mind would reject any act that went against one's personal values when hypnotized.
Another example of hypnosis being used for control as portrayed in pop culture is from The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers. King Theoden is being controlled under a spell that greatly represents aspects of what most to believe is from hypnotism. He is controlled by Saruman and Wormtongue and released by Gandalf. Theoden is under a spell, but the spell greatly represents hypnotism. He is also cured by Gandalf through a process that represents hypnotism, however, this curing process better represents the real effects of hypnotism: curation and heightened awareness.
Even in children's movies, like Aladdin, The sultan is hypnotized and controlled by jafar and his magic staff (starting at 3:00)
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Hypnosis is not mind control
There are many misconceptions and fears about hypnosis. Popular ones are that it can act as a truth serum, or be a way to control someone to do criminal acts, or that one could get stuck in a hypnotic state. These are all false. The Mayo Clinic's website clarifies that hypnotherapy (hypnosis) is also called "hypnotic suggestion" and "It's important to know that although you're more open to suggestion during hypnosis, you don't lose control over your behavior." Hypnosis or hypnotherapy is a way to help people cope with anxiety/pain, and cope with behaviors. It is NOT used for one person to control another.
SUSCEPTIBILITY
Not everyone is susceptible. In some people it is very effective, and others will experience no effects at all. You may wonder why some stage hypnotists are able to make people do ridiculous acts on stage. This is because the entertainer will choose those that are most eager to be hypnotized and help entertain the audience. Hypnotism can't make anybody do something that is against their own values, the mind will simply reject it. Hypnotists act as guides, not masters, to guide someone to their most heightened awareness. When someone is hypnotized, they are always in control and aware of what is going on. However, they must be willing to go along with the process.