How does hypnosis work?

Question

What are the mechanisms that make it work?

Answer 1

Studies show that only 1 out of 5 people can be hypnotized.It's a practice which is highly criticized due to lack of evidence that it is effective.That's why Psychiatrists are not allowed to use hypnotism as part of their therapy anymore.

Answer 2

Hypnosis is basically the misdirection of a person's consciousness so that subconscious aspects of their behavior and/or person can be revealed.

The use of a object to create a 'trance' is really just as a focal point by which another person directs that person's attention. The swinging of a watch, the reading of a book, the sitting comfortably and closing one's eyes, all induce the person into a state of diverted consciousness, depending upon the level of trust the psychologist is able to induce. The more the psychologist is able to divert the person's consciousness (and it's hidden refusals and barriers) is based upon how comfortable the person is made to feel. It also has to do with the uncomfortableness of the experience which is brought forward.

Under hypnosis, the suggestions start out very general and safe for the participant (what is your name, what is your favorite color, where do you live) and proceed from there. How smoothly one seques from one line of conversation to another, the tone of voice used, the amount of affirmations given during the session, all contribute to the effectiveness of the technique. Most people need to be constantly reassured while under hypnosis, since the longer one's consciousness remains diverted the more apprehensive one can become.

Answer 3

I don't think its fully understood HOW it works. People can understand and learn the methods of how to hypnotise other, but I do not think they know exactly how this phenomenon occurs.

I do know that the subject of hypnosis experiences monoideism which is literally "one idea". They have only 1 thought at a time versus regular consciousness where you cannot just truly focus one 1 thing at a time.

Answer 4

To try it for yourself for the first time, use a good book and have a friend act as the operator. The only book I have (copy wright,1964), is still being sold at Barnes and Noble : Self Hypnotism, Leslie M. Lecron.
I would call this a controlled trance-like state.
You are immobile, with eyes closed, but not asleep, and you are aware of what you are saying and doing.
You are open to suggestions and you are focused on them, using your subconscious, and therefore you act on them quicker than if you received them while awake and attending to other things.

Answer 5

It's a suspension of disbelief. You voluntarily give complete volition to another person and this eliminates many barriers you have to acting. The other person is in control so you give the responsibility of thinking about it to the person commanding you. This means that the proper effort, the proper level of suspension of your own volition and trust in the "hypnotist", that many layers of anxiety and disbelief or hesitation can be stripped away. You are just doing what your told, not considering any of the consequences. This is a powerful psycho-somatic state of mind, similar to taking sugar-pills you think are real medicine, and seeing real medical benefits.

Answer 6

Anything to distract you from whats happening. The less you think about the fact that your being put under the easier it will be. You have to alow yourself to let it happen and it still wont work for some people.

Answer 7

your consciousness is reduced and like sleeping your unconscious takes control.
the fact that you become more suggestive is that unconscious mind has no reason and accepts everything without questioning.
then after getting conscious your mind prevents you from recognizing fact by a top-down mechanism.