Hypnosis : World Literature / Advanced Composition

“What is Hypnosis?” Describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in Hypnotherapy.

My dad had taken my best friend, his brother, and me to a hypnosis show. At the time I thought that hypnotism couldn't be real, and that he pays people to say as he does. He asks for volunteers, and of course my dad’s brother volunteers and is chosen. He then starts following the commands, tapping, snoring, and dancing. Watching a six foot tall, 200 pound man dance in front of hundreds of people may have changed my mind, and unless he was on payroll, hypnosis had to be real. So what is hypnosis, what are common misconceptions and myths, and what are different types of hypnosis? Today I will be answering these three questions.

What is hypnosis? Hypnosis has amazing benefits and can enhance people lives in many ways. In modern times, it is unfortunate that Hypnosis is seen as a method of entertaining people instead of it being respected for its true aspects. In reality, hypnosis bears little resemblance to these stereotyped images, as it can improve focus and general well-being mentally and physically. It is a cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist. It can also be described as a sleep like trance state or better expressed as a relaxed creative mind, focused by the individual. Despite stories about people being hypnotised out of their consent hypnosis requires voluntary participation on the part of the

The content of this essay will explore how hypnosis has been defined in both the past and the present. I will explain my understanding of hypnosis as well as exploring the history of hypnosis, its origins and how it was first practiced. I shall also detail some of the techniques used and the psychological and physical changes which occur during hypnosis. Finally I will discuss the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy and look at some of the reasons that individuals wish to undergo hypnosis and the benefits they may experience.

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind that can be used for many purposes, in different settings. Nowadays research in the field of hypnosis and associated areas has blossomed and there are valuable evidence that hypnosis has real and measurable affects on both body and mind. During this essay I will be describing what is hypnosis including what the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis are, further I will be discussing the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy.

“What is hypnosis?” Describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is widely used in therapy for a number of reasons. The promotion of hypnosis as a cure for weight loss, smoking, exam nerves and other such

Given the innate personal nature of the processes of hypnotherapy it would perhaps seem logical at the outset that the above statement may in fact be true. However, given the complexities of the human organism could it possibly be true that an hypnotic induction tailored to suit a specific individual would always be most effective? In this essay I will look at the methods and techniques employed in hypnotherapy to personalise inductions within the screed, and the reasons why, and consider when and how these techniques may, or may not, be effective.

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

Hypnosis as it is practised refers to an interaction between two people, one of whom is identified as the hypnotist, the other as the subject/client, (P2 Hypnotherapy handbook, by Heap and Dryden). Hypnosis is a process in which psychological, mental emotions, reactions and behaviour are changed to improve health and positive wellbeing. During this essay I will talk about the history and what the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis are. Further to that I will be discussing the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy, why some of us are more susceptible and how hypnosis has been used in medicine, as well as the comparisons to hypnosis today.

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.

A common question is, what is hypnosis and how does it work? According to the American Psychology Association hypnosis is a therapeutic technique in which clinicians make suggestions to individuals who have undergone a procedure designed to relax them and focus their minds (American Psychology Association, 2016). Hypnosis is called hypnotherapy and hypnotic suggestion. James Braid, a 19th – century Scottish surgeon originated those terms based on the word hypnos, which is Greek for “to sleep” (Harris, 2016).

Hypnosis is a process through which subjects become susceptible to suggestion with changes in perception, memory, thoughts, and behavior. There are three basic theories surrounding hypnosis. One of the basic theories surrounding hypnosis is neodissociation theory by Ernest R. Hilgard. According to Hilgard during hypnosis, the conscious mind dissociates from what happens during hypnosis. There is a split in consciousness in which one part of the mind operates independently from the rest of the consciousness leading to the hidden observer. The “state” and the “non-state” theories are two other theories that explain hypnosis. The “state” theory suggests that when a person is in a hypnotic trance, they have entered a unique state of consciousness.

Although the term “hypnosis” has been used only since the 1840s, priests, shamans, healers and medicine men began using this technique, or some form of it, centuries earlier. Evidence of hypnotic-like phenomena appears in many ancient cultures. There are written records about hypnosis going back 5,000 years in Mesopotamia and Egypt and 2,500 years ago in ancient China and Greece.

     Hypnosis is defined as a state of mind where the body is more reactive to suggestions than in normal conditions. When under hypnosis, one narrows his or her attention to one subject or object. Everyone in the world has experienced hypnosis many times. Some examples are daydreaming and not realizing other events happening, being engrossed in a book or a movie, or