I’m sure you will agree with me when I say that when people hear the word“hypnosis”, they immediately picture a mysterious, goateed hypnotist figure, waving a pocket watch back and forth, guiding his subject to semi-sleep state, to do the hypnotist’s evil bidding. This image was made popular in movies, television shows, and books. Once hypnotized, the subject is most often than not compelled to obey, no matter how strange the request is.
In reality, this is not the case. Modern day hypnosis contradicts the old belief that subjects in hypnotic trance act like “slaves” to their “masters”. Contrary to popular belief, subjects undergoing hypnosis still have their absolute, free will. They cannot do anything that is against their will. What really happens is that, they just get hyper attentive.
People’s understanding of hypnosis has greatly advanced in the past century, but it still somehow remains to be a mystery. The way psychiatrists understand it is, that hypnosis is a trance state that is characterized by extreme relaxation, suggestibility, and heightened imagination. Unlike sleep, the subject is alert the whole time. It can be compared to daydreaming, or the feeling of "losing one’s self" in a book or movie. You, as the subject, are awake and fully conscious, but you are able to tune out most of the stimuli around you. You focus intently on the subject at hand, to the near exclusion of any other thought.
When you experience this state of mind, you can become very yielding, meaning, whatever the hypnotist tells you to do, as long as you believe in it, you will most likely do it. This is why stage hypnotist shows are so fun and entertaining. Subjects who are usually reserved and sensible, become outgoing and confident. But as mentioned, if you are not willing to do the bidding, then the hypnotist can't get you to do anything you don't want to do.
In reality, this is not the case. Modern day hypnosis contradicts the old belief that subjects in hypnotic trance act like “slaves” to their “masters”. Contrary to popular belief, subjects undergoing hypnosis still have their absolute, free will. They cannot do anything that is against their will. What really happens is that, they just get hyper attentive.
People’s understanding of hypnosis has greatly advanced in the past century, but it still somehow remains to be a mystery. The way psychiatrists understand it is, that hypnosis is a trance state that is characterized by extreme relaxation, suggestibility, and heightened imagination. Unlike sleep, the subject is alert the whole time. It can be compared to daydreaming, or the feeling of "losing one’s self" in a book or movie. You, as the subject, are awake and fully conscious, but you are able to tune out most of the stimuli around you. You focus intently on the subject at hand, to the near exclusion of any other thought.
When you experience this state of mind, you can become very yielding, meaning, whatever the hypnotist tells you to do, as long as you believe in it, you will most likely do it. This is why stage hypnotist shows are so fun and entertaining. Subjects who are usually reserved and sensible, become outgoing and confident. But as mentioned, if you are not willing to do the bidding, then the hypnotist can't get you to do anything you don't want to do.
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