Explain Why Was Mesmer Created What Would Be Hypnosis

Looking back, it is clear now that hypnosis has been around for many centuries and the use of hypnotic states can be traced back to Shamans or Witch Doctors. In the 1700’s Franz Anton Mesmer produced his theory of “animal magnetism” in which he believed healing forces could be transferred through “cosmic fluid” there is no evidence to support the transfer of the healing energies devised by Mesmer but his success rate was high which lead to his patients being described as “mesmerized” and mesmerism is an early forerunner for modern day hypnosis. Many theories

The psychological aspects of hypnotherapy are associated with people’s behaviour. Two of the most recognised psychologists are Stanley Milgram and Soloman Asch. Soloman Asch constructed a series of studies of social influence known as conformity and obedience in psychological terms, conformity refers to an individual's tendency to follow the unspoken rules

Hypnosis, as a term and as a practice, is shrouded in centuries of mystery and surrounded by misconception. Even the word itself, derived from the Greek ‘hypnos’, meaning sleep, is misleading; most people today, even if they hadn’t experienced it themselves, would recognise that being in a hypnotic state is not the same as being asleep. In order to reach a satisfactory definition of hypnosis, it is necessary therefore to explore its origins,

This essay will explore the difference between permissive and authoritarian approaches in hypnotherapy. Included will be history of the two approaches, background of the way they work and practical examples to show the influence they have on clients. Gathering information through various means (which will be discussed in this essay) will help the hypnotherapist create a personalized induction. The essay will explore this personalized induction and see if it will always be most effective to use a script that is modified of tailor made for the particular client.

The history of hypnosis is a bit like a history of breathing. Like breathing, hypnosis is an inherent and universal trait, shared and experienced by all human beings since the dawn of time. It’s only in the last few decades that we’ve come to realise that hypnosis itself hasn’t changed for millennia, but our understanding of it and our ability to control it has changed quite profoundly. The history of hypnosis, then, is really the history of this change in perception (History of Hypnosis, 2012). Although through the ages many rituals and practises from all over the world resemble modern day hypnosis, hypnosis from a western medical point of view started in 18th Century

Sigmund Freud studies convinced him that humans have powerful hidden mental processes, the theory that formed the basis of his later works. Freud supported the use of hypnosis and he used it in his work with the use of non-verbal inductions. By the mid – 1890’s he had given up hypnosis as it fell out of favour. Modern day acceptance of hypnosis in medicine that we now have owes a great debt to research starting in the 1920’s and 30’s by Clark Hull and his student Milton Erickson. Erickson went on to become the recognised leading authority on hypnosis- the master of indirect hypnosis. He was able to put a person into a trance without mentioning the word hypnosis. Erickson’s approach is widely accepted as the most effective techniques.

He believed that only patients who were overly emotional could be looked at and fully hypnotized. Two other physicians found out and tried to challenge him. Hippolyte Bernheim and A.A. Liebault believed that they could put most people under hypnosis no matter what. Bernheim believed that the quality of being inclined to accept and act on suggestions of others. After something was repeated so much, you would jump on the “bandwagon” and join them. Gabriel Tarde believes that the truth is that every man walks in their sleep or under hypnosis. The psychologists did studies and experiments on college students. When observing them they would ask them to state their opinion on certain social issues. They would give their answer then later tell them how larger groups and superiors felt on the same social issue. The students would most likely change their stance on the social issue to match their superiors. Many people questioned the study’s results. They do not know if they are being truthful or if they just wrote down that because that is what they believe in and want to be true. Psychologists did another study with seven to nine male college students anonymously. They gave them cards with lines on them and

Franz Anton Mesmer was a man whom had discovered the work of Renaissance mystic physician Paracelsus at around 1766. He tried to uncover a relationship of astrology and human health or regeneration, combining human trials and studies at around 1775, he later became increasingly unpopular amongst other physicians of his time then renounced and left country after country leaving a few followers that would later be known as "mesmerist" who would follow his footsteps and perform studies on patients. After his death, 2 of his followers announced great discoveries that consisted of sleep like states humans went through using his practices; those discoveries and revelations would later lead physicians to consider the possibility of using mesmerism as an anesthetic during surgery. James Braid another man who became interested in “mesmerism” then began his own trials in Manchester at about 1841. He is known as the father of modern hypnosis using similar methods as "mesmerism” he examined subjects and got behind the science of the human brain and its reaction under trance along with how one is hypnotized in the first place. He disproved Mesmer not wanting to be known as a follower of him and his beliefs; he renamed mesmerism, “Hypnosis”, after Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. Hypnosis has been practiced and tried for over 3 centuries; you

John Elliotson’s public display of the O’Key sisters left the public questioning the authenticity of their actions. (History of Hypnosis, 2012) Many of viewers thought that the entire performance was simply nothing more than just that, a performance. (History of Hypnosis, 2012) These controversies lead to his resignation from the hospital in which he was employed at. (History of Hypnosis, 2012) Shortly after he was forced to resign from the hospital, Elliotson marked his permanent territory 1849 in the history of hypnosis when he opened the London Mesmeric Infirmary. (History of Hypnosis, 2012) It was at the London Mesmeric Infirmary where he became famous for his practice of successfully using hypnosis for anesthesia and managing pain during surgery. (History of Hypnosis, 2012)

In the the 18th century in Vienna, Austria a man named Franz Anton Mesmer had nearly concluded his theory in the medical practice of mesmerism of hypnosis. Hypnosis is the practice of using visual signals that put the subject in a state that lacks mental presence but can still receive and understand verbal cues. Aside from the comical uses watches were in fact used as well as the use of abstract patterns of black and white to overstimulate the senses shutting down the independent functionality of the brain, however the control of the subject requires specific visual and verbal communications to fix the internal problems from the subconscious. Franz was a type of eccentric finding interest of the heavier esoteric means found in the stranger

Today we know that depression, anxiety and other psychological symptoms can contribute to physical sensations and a sense of being physically unwell and we also have an understanding of psychosomatic illness. Another important contribution was Mesmer’s recognition of the unconscious, although he did not speak of it as such. He experienced the power of the unconscious in that he contributed to the discovery of the hypnotic state, which can be a powerful therapeutic tool in therapy. Although he was labeled a fraud on the basis that there was no proof that he had discovered a new physical fluid, it is an important finding just the same that his clients were cured on the basis of suggestion. This is important in terms of how the psychological relates to the physical. Another contribution to psychology is that Mesmer sought to be both a scientist and a practitioner, and that this model of the dual role of a therapist is important for therapists working in psychology today. Finally, Mesmer mentored an important figure in the history of psychology who recognized that the belief in the efficacy of cure, desire to cure and the therapeutic relationship were fundamental factors in successfully working with clients in therapy. These beliefs are central to the practice of clinical psychology in our world today. There is no doubt that Mesmer is a curious figure in the history of psychology. He contributed to

Sigmund Freud, neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, was originally interested in the scientific side of medicine and was especially intrigued by the brain. He attended medical school in Vienna with the aspiration to become a medical researcher. From this he was offered a fellowship to study in Paris with neurologist, Jean Charcot. Charcot treated Conversion Hysteria patients using hypnosis. Conversion hysteria is a psychological disorder in which the patients experience physical symptoms but have no evidence of any medical condition. Charcot believed that a traumatic event in someones life could trigger an emotional response that caused these symptoms. Later, Freud returned to Vienna and starting working with Josef Breuer, a physician who was treating hysterics. Breuer was somewhat successful in treating patients with hypnosis. One of his patients, Anna was his most successful and Freud went on to reference his study on Anna in his work. Based upon his work with Breuer, Freud concluded … about the mind.

Freud was interested by how Charcot used a hypnosis to treat hysteria. Freud started to experiment with hypnotherapy. He concluded that hypnotherapy effected patients and it could be

Ludy, B. (1986). Why don't they understand us? A history of psychology's public image. American Psychologists, 41, 941-946.

Freud began exploring other methods of therapy including magnetism, where he believed he could use magnets to move sickness from one side of the brain to another. But none of these techniques were effective. Then a man named Jean-Martin Charcot introduced hypnosis therapy to Freud. This caught Freud’s attention because hypnosis is another way he could unlock and explore the unconscious mind. Relaxing on the psychiatric couch was the optimal position for a patient to undergo hypnosis. Freud gained a lot of research about the unconscious through hypnosis therapy. Later, Freud concluded that the patients’ sicknesses were not getting better through hypnosis simply because they could not recall anything from when they were hypnotized.