Hypnosis fascinates me but I’m skeptical of certain claims regarding the phenomena. I have participated in several group hypnotic sessions, and these have only strengthened my skepticism (and my curiosity). One of these hypnotic sessions was part of the Lamaze class that my wife and I attended while she was pregnant with our first daughter. In this class, the instructor attempted to hypnotize participants but for some reason I found this endeavor funny, my wife realized that I was trying not to laugh, and as a result we both laughed. The instructor attempted to control the situation by telling everybody else that “all distractions will fade” and instructing them to “only hear my (her) voice” (For some reason that made it even funnier). Somewhat to my surprise, everybody else remained perfectly poised and unaffected by our outburst (at least in their appearance).
I believe the essence of hypnosis is related, or perhaps even the same, as the dynamics of obedience, authority, and conformity. From the Milgram experiment, we know that authority affects people so intensely that most people are willing to inflict pain on another participant (unwilling) on authorities ‘demand’. It would be interesting to know if people will accept pain onto themselves at the demands of authority. However, they certainly accept psychological discomfort and carry out orders, even when it is against their conscience, and I would think this constitutes a type of pain. If the affect of authority is so strong then we could imagine the hypnotic subject responding favorably to the authoritative hypnotist.
The Stanford Prison Experiment (conducted by Philip Zimbardo) sought to examine the psychological effects of authority by assigning participants to the role of prisoner or guard in a mock prison. After some initial friction between guards and prisoners, the participants accepted their roles, with guards becoming more dominating and prisoners becoming increasingly passive and submissive. A more recent replication of the experiment (BBC Prison Experiment) challenges some traditional interpretations of the SP experiment. The BBC scientists speculate that the differences between their experiments developed because Zimbardo coached his guards, whereas they did not. Their assertion is that a powerful authority existed already and didn’t merely arise from prescribed ‘roles’. Regardless of whether authority manifest from prescription or assertion, we can imagine either of these dynamics working for the hypnotist, whom demands absolute obedience from the hypnotized as a hypnotist.
If the mere dynamics of authority are not enough then other aspects of hypnotism seem designed around basic principles of persuasion. Psychologist, Robert Cialdini believes ‘consistency’ and ‘commitment’ are both prime psychological heuristics, easily manipulated towards persuasion. The power of obliging commitments and being consistent seem well engrained on the human psyche. Hypnosis asks us to commit, the hypnotist often ask that you try, that you listen only to them, do as they say, keep your eyes closed, etc. Each request the hypnotist suggest creates an even greater commitment from the hypnotized, which only facilitates the need for greater consistency. I can imagine that some individuals have participated in hypnosis sessions while doubting the whole affair but went along with it because the dissonance of inconsistency was too strong – hypnotized by a sense of obligation (“I wasn’t really hypnotized” – Oh – but you were)!
This gives hypnosis three (so far) powerful persuasive triggers towards psychological influence and these seem to work in synchronous cohort. First, you must agree to be hypnotized – or so the hypnotist tells you. While this isn’t always the assertion it’s common and powerful enough, and from a persuasive point of view it makes sense because the subject that is to be hypnotized ‘agrees’ to submit to the hypnotist’s ‘authority’ while obligating (committing) themselves to obedience. The longer one participates (consistency), the greater the dissonance becomes in the idea of ‘not participating’. In short, if you agree to be hypnotized and to submit to the hypnotist and to hypnosis then not doing so will be uncomfortable, so it is in affect easier to be hypnotized than not to be hypnotized.
In a group hypnosis session it is probable that another powerful force is being exploited, called ‘conformity’. Plenty of experiments and observations have demonstrated the intinctual need to conform to group behavior. In fact, the chances are good that you will trust group wisdom over your own – this is evidenced by many experiments (notable is the Asch experiment). We have a need to conform to the group for acceptance and safety. The reasons for group conformity are easily speculated but it appears akin to authoritative conformity. So, when my wife and I laughed at our Lamaze instructors attempt to hypnotize us it makes sense that the other ten couples were unresponsive to our outburst. Conformity might also work in other ways, such as obliging popular perception. Conformance might also be the real mechanism that empowers authority because we have a survival instinct to oblige the dominant forces in our life. In any regards, the hypnotist is dominant, and if there is a group of subjects under hypnosis, their behavior will dominate over anybody who questions over whether or not they are actually hypnotized.
In conclusion – I have experiential reason to believe that my own inability to be hypnotized relates to my skepticism of authority (I’ve been a rebel most of my life). Much of what we know about the behaviors of dominance and submission, as well as social influence, seems ritualized in the phenomena of hypnosis. I don’t know if a generalized state of submission is equivalent to the psychological state experienced in hypnosis but it seems that submission to authority is at least one means of creating the phenomena called hypnosis.
Kevin, this is a great skeptical overview of hypnosis. I think the elements of persuasion you mention certainly do play a part, though a small one. Were hypnosis just persuasion, its wouldn’t have the therapeutic & anesthetic benefits it does. So I’d like to add a couple things from a hypnotist’s perspective, along with the caveat that, if you don’t think you can be hypnotized, you’re right. The individuals who doubt hypnosis and just “go along” with a session might get a nap, but no benefits of hypnosis. There’s an old saw among hypnotists that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
Here are two things you’ll run across in most standard models of hypnosis that put it far afield of persuasion & obedience:
First, the Mind Model. The standard model holds that the mind has three parts: a Conscious Mind, a Subconscious Mind, and a Critical Factor. The conscious mind’s the one I’m typing with and you’re reading with; the subconscious is doing all its stuff there in the background, like pushing me forward to where it thinks I should go. When I wind up procrastinating, putting off my taxes, or avoiding that nasty conversation? Subconscious mind, protecting me from stuff my conscious mind knows full well I should get on. (Another standard dichotomy holds that C.M. = logical, S-C.M. = emotional.) The critical factor separates the two. The critical factor is the skeptic, basically. It protects the subconscious mind from unruly suggestions. In some hypnotherapy models, most problems we have are a result of a bad suggestion picked up, usually in childhood before the critical factor was well established (very similar to mainstream therapeutic models).
Second, Trance States. The simplest definition of hypnosis is as a series of guided trance states. These have a bunch of different names depending on who’s talking. You’ll hear phrases like “somnambulism” used not to mean sleepwalking but a sleeplike state. Another, a trademarked term, is “Ultra-Height”… I prefer the Greek letters, Beta, Alpha, and Theta. Beta is standard wakefulness. The conscious mind’s in full control, chattering away. Alpha is the first level of trance. You’re focused inwardly, still aware of the outside world, but you just don’t care that much. This would be everyone who got hypnotized in the lamaze class. They’re in hypnosis and open to simple suggestions (“the pregnancy will go fine”), and will leave it feeling really good & relaxed. Then there’s theta. Theta’s somnambulism, a deep state of trance and high suggestibility. Each state name relates to the brainwave frequency it evokes. Yeah, there’s research literature, I’m told… no, I can’t point to any.
I’m no academic! Just an enthusiast.
All said, I usually just think of hypnosis as a very fast, very effective form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Both work to change our self-talk. CBT does it over a long period of time by addressing the conscious mind; hypnosis does it quickly by going straight to the subconscious. I’ve done both and prefer the latter; it works much better for me, and when it’s over you feel really good, not beat up by your therapist. And just like the various therapies, there are various schools of hypnosis, usually depending on the teacher: Kein, Bandler, Cunningham, Elman, etc etc. There are some really fly-by-night hypnotists out there and some really grounded, good ones. When you want to test your skepticism again, try a one-on-one session and note the style of hypnosis… and let me know how it goes.
Hi teddy,
My skepticism isn’t a disbelief but rather a questioning of what exactly creates the phenomena, what it is, and how it manifest. My own theory (and I would be surprised if it hasn’t been fully or partially proposed elsewhere) wouldn’t invalidate the hypnotic experience or its results. The forces that manifest this theory are all potent dynamics capable of significantly changing personality and behavior in their own right.
The person who goes along but is skeptical of whether or not they are hypnotized is subject to a potentially powerful force – namely the physiological effects of sensory overload (Ref. William Sargant) – that can lead to complete breakdown of cognition and restructuring of belief. This later force is used to explain radical religious experience, brainwashing, cult conversion, false memories etc. I would actually argue that a subconsciously resistant (but participating) person is capable of (and more likely to have) the more profound experience.
If we could qualify what constitutes a hypnotic state, then we could test this theory by comparing and contrasting the state of those hypnotized (by various means) with those subjected to a state of dissonance and obedience through unrecognized (non-hypnotic) methods.
Hi Kevin,
I like your post and I agree that the three factors you’ve listed are very big influences on what is regarded as hypnosis. I don’t think they are equal to hypnosis, but they make it easier.
The way I view hypnosis is probably a little different to most people:
I regard Hypnosis as the process of guiding people into any kind of state, that produces an unconscious response.
A book hypnotises you to feel and picture the content of the book (it is just white paper with little black dots on, but it still creates a sense of realness)
Think of this…
Even though the hypnotist didn’t get you to do perform his suggestions. He still managed to elicit an unconscious response (the laughing for “no reason”).
I see this quite often if people are not entirely comfortable with the process. And the more you try to control it the more energy you feed in to the unconscious response. If the hypnotist had been really clever he could have utilised this response to deepen your trance.
Recently a there have been studies measuring pain relatively in and out of trance state/hypnosis and then cross referencing it with brain scans…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xInPOCQsR0Q
Thanks Brian,
I don’t regard this perspective as all-encompassing but rather as the mechanisms of a particular modality of hypnotic phenomena.
I explain this a little bit more as a comment on Teddy’s post.
Can hypnosis help in anxiety attacks and depression ?.”
It can but it probably isn’t the best method nor should it be the only method.
hypnosis could be used on a lot of things like quitting cigarette smoking and confidence building.:”-
Some people say that about prayer or meditation or magnetic rings etc. etc. etc.