Hypnotic Phenomena Explained
October 29, 2010 - Categories:
Hypnosis Studies
This article contains a nice
summary of the major types of hypnotic phenomena. You might see
these phenomena demonstrated in a stage hypnotist show for entertainment
purposes:
- Catelepsy
- Time Distortion
- Dissociation
- Amnesia
- Halluciations
- Post Hypnotic Suggestion
- Analgesia
Read the complete article:
Hypnotic
Phenomena Explained
My notes on this article:
I sometimes use eye or arm catalepsy as a “convincer” for my clinical hypnosis clients to show them they are hypnotized. The trance state is a natural state of mind experienced often throughout the day. When visiting a hypnotist for self improvement purposes, it is very possible to achieve the hypnotic state and still leave the session feeling like you were NOT actually hypnotized. For this reason, a good hypnotist uses convincers to show the client that they are, in fact, experiencing an altered state of mind.
With eye catalepsy, the hypnotist suggests to the client that his eyes are locked shut in the closed position. When the client is then told to try to open their eyes, they are unable to do so. This only takes a light state of trance.
For arm catalepsy, I ask the client to raise their arm and make it stiff and rigid like an iron bar. I then suggest to the client that their arm is fixed in place and they are unable to move the arm from this fixed position no matter how hard they try.
Time Distortion is another great hypnosis convincer I use with every first time client. I ask the client to note the time before we begin the session. As the session is concluding, I suggest that it may seem like only five minutes has passed by since we began.
As the client emerges form the trance state, I ask them, “First impression, how long does it seem like the session lasted?” The client usually responds with something like, “Not very long, maybe five minutes?” You then refer the client back to the clock they looked at in the beginning to confirm that the session was actually 45 minutes or even much longer!
Post Hypnotic Suggestions are frequently used in comedy hypnosis shows as a grand finale. For example, I suggest to a show participant that, “Upon awakening, after I send you back into the audience, any time you hear me and only me say the word ‘Lottery’, you will instantly realize it’s as if you have just won five million dollars in the lottery.”
Several minutes may go by before the volunteer has returned to his friends in the audience. Despite appearing normal in all respects and conversing freely with his friends, the volunteer will instantly respond appropriately with joyful screams of glee as soon as I utter the word “lottery” from the stage.
My notes on this article:
I sometimes use eye or arm catalepsy as a “convincer” for my clinical hypnosis clients to show them they are hypnotized. The trance state is a natural state of mind experienced often throughout the day. When visiting a hypnotist for self improvement purposes, it is very possible to achieve the hypnotic state and still leave the session feeling like you were NOT actually hypnotized. For this reason, a good hypnotist uses convincers to show the client that they are, in fact, experiencing an altered state of mind.
With eye catalepsy, the hypnotist suggests to the client that his eyes are locked shut in the closed position. When the client is then told to try to open their eyes, they are unable to do so. This only takes a light state of trance.
For arm catalepsy, I ask the client to raise their arm and make it stiff and rigid like an iron bar. I then suggest to the client that their arm is fixed in place and they are unable to move the arm from this fixed position no matter how hard they try.
Time Distortion is another great hypnosis convincer I use with every first time client. I ask the client to note the time before we begin the session. As the session is concluding, I suggest that it may seem like only five minutes has passed by since we began.
As the client emerges form the trance state, I ask them, “First impression, how long does it seem like the session lasted?” The client usually responds with something like, “Not very long, maybe five minutes?” You then refer the client back to the clock they looked at in the beginning to confirm that the session was actually 45 minutes or even much longer!
Post Hypnotic Suggestions are frequently used in comedy hypnosis shows as a grand finale. For example, I suggest to a show participant that, “Upon awakening, after I send you back into the audience, any time you hear me and only me say the word ‘Lottery’, you will instantly realize it’s as if you have just won five million dollars in the lottery.”
Several minutes may go by before the volunteer has returned to his friends in the audience. Despite appearing normal in all respects and conversing freely with his friends, the volunteer will instantly respond appropriately with joyful screams of glee as soon as I utter the word “lottery” from the stage.