Phenomena Of Hypnosis Research Articles

Analgesic hypnotic treatment in a post-stroke patient

ABSTRACT In recent years, hypnotic suggestions have been used in several clinical conditions. This treatment is often used for anxiety treatment, somatization, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Hypnotic analgesia is one of the most clinically useful phenomena of hypnosis. The article describes the case of a patient who underwent hypnotic treatments for hypersensitivity and chronic pain. Results showed an improvement of pain control and a decrease of pain hypersensibility. In addition, during rehabilitative treatments, the patient reported a high level of compliance with the multidisciplinary team. These findings suggest that hypnosis could be a useful treatment for post-stroke pain management.

Catching a Wave: The Hypnosis-Sensitive Transference-Based Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

In this article, I will describe the way in which I work with enactment-prone dissociative patients in the transference. This approach requires an appreciation of the phenomena of hypnosis and the auto-hypnotic aspects of some forms of dissociation. Essentially, I learn from the patient and my interactions with the patient how hypnotic phenomena and auto-hypnotic defenses manifest themselves in the therapeutic relationship in order both to understand them and ultimately to bring them under conscious control. Because of the fluidity and turbulence of these states, I use the analogy of catching a wave, in which timing and balance are essential, albeit elusive factors in effecting a successful treatment. The importance of having experience with many patients, attending conferences, seeking supervision, and undergoing one’s own therapy will be also discussed as important prerequisites for the clinician endeavoring to utilize this type of approach. This preparation, this quest for such a “balance,” is modeled after the so-called tripartite model of training employed in psychoanalytic training institutes. I will offer clinical material to illustrate this approach, which I have described as “psychoactive psychotherapy.” In such treatments, the clinician may be taken by surprise and is likely to be thrown “off balance” from time to time. The mutually shared understanding of such moments is essential to regaining clinical balance in the therapeutic setting, and can lead to if not create important turning points in the treatment process.

'Report of the Committee on Mediumistic Phenomena', by William James (1886): With an introduction by.

Mediumship was a topic of great interest to some nineteenth-century students of mental phenomena. Together with the phenomena of hypnosis and other manifestations, mediumship was seen by many as a dissociative phenomenon. The purpose of this Classic Text is to present an excerpt of an article about the topic that William James (1842-1910) published in 1886 in the Proceedings of the American Society for Psychical Research about American medium Leonora E. Piper (1857-1950). The article, an indication of late nineteenth-century interactions between dissociation studies and psychical research, was the first report of research with Mrs Piper, a widely investigated medium of great importance for the development of mediumship studies. In addition to studying the case as a dissociative experience, James explored the possibility that Piper's mentation contained verifiable information suggestive of 'supernormal' knowledge. Consequently, James provides an example of a topic neglected in historical studies, the ideas of those who combined conventional dissociation studies with psychical research.

The powers of suggestion: Albert Moll and the debate on hypnosis.

The Berlin physician Albert Moll (1862-1939) was an advocate of hypnotic suggestion therapy and a prolific contributor to the medical, legal and public discussions on hypnotism from the 1880s to the 1920s. While his work in other areas, such as sexology, medical ethics and parapsychology, has recently attracted scholarly attention, this paper for the first time comprehensively examines Moll's numerous publications on hypnotism and places them in their contemporary context. It covers controversies over the therapeutic application of hypnosis, the reception of Moll's monograph Der Hypnotismus (1889), his research on the rapport between hypnotizer and subject, his role as an expert on 'hypnotic crime', and his views on the historical influence of hypnotism on the development of psychotherapy. My findings suggest that Moll rose to prominence due to the strong late-nineteenth-century public and medical interest in the phenomena of hypnosis, but that his work was soon overshadowed by new, non-hypnotic psychotherapeutic approaches, particularly Freud's psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalytic Remarks on Fromm's Book “Escape From Freedom”

Freud’s “Group Psychology and Analysis of the Ego” is the starting point for all investigations concerning the psychology of leadership. The phenomenon of hypnosis is the model of all “authority,” and hypnosis is a regressive phenomenon; an old pattern is remobilized: the relationship of the child to his parents whom he believes to be omnipotent (after having lost the belief in his own omnipotence). Through the feeling of being loved and protected by the parents, the child enjoys sexual and narcissistic (security) satisfaction simultaneously. The deep memory traces of this experience form in later situations of danger, anxiety, insecurity or frustration, a temptation to long for a “hypnotist” who magically brings all that is missing, in the same unconditioned and oral way as the mother once brought the food. This longing can be misused by different “hypnotists,” under different conditions in very different ways. The hypnotist offers magical reparticipation in the lost and projected omnipotence. This narcissistic satisfaction once had been identical with an (archaic) sexual satisfaction; nor should it be forgotten that also mature sexual satisfaction brings an experience of undoing of individualization, of “flowing together,” of “oceanic feelings.” Hunger and satiety govern the rhythm of the infant’s life; “sexual longing” and “sexual satisfaction” as well as “narcissistic need” and “narcissistic satisfaction” are two different derivatives of this very same root.1 Normally those two types of derivatives have a different development. To get sexual

The Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Hypnotic Behavior

A theory of hypnosis stands or falls by its answer to one crucial question: Why do some subjects quickly and easily experience many of the phenomena of hypnosis while other subjects show very little if any hypnotic behavior after many attempts by numerous hypnotists? This paper presents suggestive evidence indicating where an answer to this question may be found.

Efficacy of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

Research on the efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of eating disorders has produced mixed findings. This is due in part to the interplay between the characteristics of people with eating disorders and the phenomena of hypnosis. In addition, several authors have noted that methodological limitations in hypnosis research often make evaluation of treatment efficacy difficult. Many of the studies extant provide insufficient information regarding the specifics of the hypnotic intervention(s) to facilitate replication and clinical implementation. Therefore, this paper only reviews literature with replicable methodological descriptions. It focuses on the three primary disorders of interest to clinicians: bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and obesity. The implications for evaluating treatment efficacy are discussed.

Time to explain the nature of hypnosis?

Time distortion is a well known phenomenon of hypnosis. Perhaps less well known are the distortions to temporal judgement that are exhibited by patients with Parkinson's disease or schizophrenia. Both these classes of patient also suffer from hallucinations, which of course can be induced in hypnosis. It is argued that these are not chance parallels; they can all be accommodated by Gray's (1995) account of the neurophysiology underpinning consciousness. Recognizing that patients with hallucinations have their consciousness altered, it is concluded that hypnosis too represents an altered state of consciousness. The degree of alteration is shown to be correlated with the magnitude of time distortion experienced. In contrast with many studies, it is also reported that distortion is significantly greater in those who are highly susceptible to hypnosis. Copyright © 2006 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Is hypnosis an altered state of consciousness or what?

The debate over whether hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness is a distraction from the real business of studying the phenomena that occur in the context of hypnotic suggestion. These phenomena can be profitably studied at several levels of analysis: the psychological, the sociocultural, and the neurobiological. A comprehensive understanding of hypnosis must emphasize that the phenomena of hypnosis reflect both alterations in consciousness and social interactions. Copyright © 2005 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis

1784

This article details the atmosphere surrounding the scientific community in France in 1784, the year of the Franklin Commission's report on Mesmer. The end of the 18th century heralded a victory of observation over systems and theories. Animal magnetism found itself in the midst of a conflict between the Old and the New World. The Franklin Commission, like so many other commissions at the time, was looking for measurable and quantifiable phenomena, the sole basis of progress in the health sciences. Mesmer and his system failed the test and were publicly denigrated. The Commission can be seen as the stepping stone to a more empirically based approach to the phenomenon of hypnosis, which would follow in the 19th century.

Remembering and forgetting autobiographical events: instrumental uses of hypnosis

AbstractAlthough intrinsic hypnosis research focuses on the phenomenon of hypnosis itself, instrumental research uses hypnosis as a tool to investigate phenomena outside its immediate domain. The present paper illustrates the value of instrumental hypnosis research by focusing on the use of hypnosis to explore the remembering and forgetting of autobiographical events. In particular, the paper focuses on a programme of research using post‐hypnotic amnesia to develop a laboratory model of functional amnesia. This research highlights some of the theoretical and methodological challenges inherent in instrumental hypnosis research, as well as its interest and value. Finally, other potential uses of hypnosis within the domain of personal memory are discussed, including autobiographical memory in hypnotically elicited delusions. Copyright © 2002 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis

Hypnosis and Implicit Memory: Automatic Processing of Explicit Content

Kenneth S. Bowers, in whose honor this issue is written, was, in his own words, “seriously curious” (Bowers, 1983 (originally published 1976)) about hypnosis throughout his career. He brought a lively intellect and an engaging and lucid writing style reminiscent of Freud's (forgive me, Ken, I'm referring to style, not content), and a set of serious questions to the phenomenon of hypnosis. We are indebted to him for his many contributions to the field.

Research advances in hypnosis: issues and methods.

Abstract There are substantial areas of agreement upon the classical phenomena of hypnosis, illustrated by what we now have learned about hypnotic talent, amnesia, hallucinations, analgesia, and dissociative processes. While genuine advances in knowledge about hypnosis have been made in recent decades, digering orienting attitudes have kept some controversy alive, particularly in the interpretation of empirical findings. Differences of interpretation of the phenomenal and behavioral facts are to be expected in the present stage of developmental, cognitive, and social psychology.

Hypnosis for young adults: Freeing ?the doctor who resides within?

This paper explains that the phenomenon of hypnosis is a naturally occurring talent, capacity, and skill that some practitioners suggest exists in nearly 90% of the population. Erickson's concept of and utilization of indirect suggestion is described and critiqued as an approach consistent with the separation/individuation issues confronting contemporary young adults. Hypnotherapy is recommended as a highly effective tool in a society suffering from severe alienation and lack of identity. Hypnosis is compared and contrasted with Cousin's discussion of placebo utilization in medicine. Hypnosis, akin to the placebo, is recognized as “giving the doctor who resides within each patient a change to go to work.”

Hypnotherapy without the phenomena of hypnosis.

Abstract A clear distinction must be drawn between the phenomena of hypnosis and the hypnotic state itself. Hypnosis is considered to be a state of mind characterized by regression to atavistic mental functioning. The phenomena are produced as a result of this regression. The production of phenomena either in the induction or in the therapeutic process is generally undesirable. Hypnosis may be used for reduction of anxiety or as a therapeutic experience without the production of any hypnotic phenomena at all.

Clinical Correlations of Experimental Hypnosis.

The bulk of this volume consists of 27 research papers that were originally published during the years 1943 to 1960 in a variety of medical and psychological journals. Unfortunately, most of these studies lack necessary controls. To draw definitive conclusions concerning the phenomena of hypnosis,<i>it is necessary to assign subjects from a homogeneous population at random to experimental and control groups and to treat both groups in the same way with the controls.</i>With a few possible exceptions, the studies reprinted in this volume failed to meet these requirements for controlled research in at least one of two ways: 1. A number of experimenters failed to randomize assignment of subjects to experimental and control treatments. Salzberg, for instance, selected his hypnotic group, but not his control group, from subjects meeting criteria for high suggestibility. He found that suggestions for enhanced learning proficiency were effective with the hypnotic subjects but

Hypnosis and Related States.

Gill and Brenman offered a great service to students of hypnosis in 1947 when they published their comprehensive review of the literature (<i>Hypnotherapy</i>, International Universities Press, Inc.). Now they extend this service by offering a distillate of their work and thinking over the years. This is not a handbook for the novice, nor is it a guide for learning techniques. It assumes that the reader has some degree of sophistication with hypnotic techniques and some knowledge of psychoanalytic theory. This leads directly to its major weakness. Instead of maintaining the central focus on the phenomena of hypnosis and its appropriate place in the field of the science of human behavior, it puts empirical data about hypnosis into the service of defending the ego psychology of Kris, Hartmann, et al. and at the same time, pays homage to these pioneers for enabling the psychoanalytic theorist to transcend

Hypnotism in pregnancy and labor.

The manifold phenomena of hypnosis are being intensely studied today by physicians, surgeons, dentists and clinical psychologists to build a new science from the foundation of an ancient art. With psychoanalysis and psychosomatic medicine still meeting with some resistance by the medical profession, hypnotism, quite naturally, is receiving an even more critical examination. Yet, it is in relation to these specialties that it is of the greatest therapeutic value. Hypnotism, at the present time, is also receiving considerable studied application in obstetrics. The purpose of this presentation, therefore, is to evaluate and discuss its use, advantages, and disadvantages in obstetrics in selected patients and to briefly review its history in medicine. Our knowledge of the motivations behind human behavior is still inadequate to explain all of the complexities of mental dysfunction. The lack of understanding of the phenomena of hypnosis strongly emphasizes our deficiencies in this regard. Plainly, this invites

Hypnotism and Suggestion

In any consideration of the nature of suggestion we cannot omit reference to the extraordinary and startling phenomena which may sometimes be observed in hypnotized subjects. But it would be a mistake to look upon hypnosis as something uncanny, mysterious, and occult. Although we have even yet no thoroughly satisfactory theory of hypnosis, we understand it in general terms, and can bring it into line with other facts and phenomena of psychology known in everyday life. The hypnotic subject, and the phenomena of hypnosis, can be explained firstly in terms of mental dissociation, of the tendency for certain forms of psychical activity to occur independently of the rest of the mind, independently of other considerations; and, secondly, in terms of suggestion, of increased suggestibility. And these two, the phenomenon of dissociation and the phenomenon of suggestibility, are not unrelated to one another. They are related, but not to the extent of being identical with one another. It was the Nancy School of Hypnotism, led by Bernheim, who considered that hypnosis could be explained in terms of suggestibility.

HYPNOTISM AND SUGGESTION

In any consideration of the nature of suggestion we cannot omit reference to the extraordinary and startling phenomena which may sometimes be observed in hypnotized subjects. But it would be a mistake to look upon hypnosis as something uncanny, mysterious, and occult. Although we have even yet no thoroughly satisfactory theory of hypnosis, we understand it in general terms, and can bring it into line with other facts and phenomena of psychology known in everyday life. hypnotic subject, and the phenomena of hypnosis, can be explained firstly in terms of mental dissociation, of the tendency for certain forms of psychical activity to occur independently of the rest of the mind, independently of other considerations; and, secondly, in terms of suggestion, of increased suggestibility. And these two, the phenomenon of dissociation and the phenomenon of suggestibility, are not unrelated to one another. They are related, but not to the extent of being identical with one another. It was the Nancy School of Hypnotism, led by Bernheim, who considered that hypnosis could be explained in terms of suggestibility. Charcot had previously explained hypnosis as an artificial hysteria-as a dissociation of the highest levels of the nervous system, a dissociation of mental and physiological activity at the higher conscious level. But the theory I am trying to sketch is the theory that combines both these statements. In my own view, based on the study of many hundreds of cases, hypnosis is explained both by dissociation and by increased suggestibility. We certainly do find increase of suggestibility occurring, partly explained in terms of dissociation, but not entirely so. On the other hand, the dissociation in its more pronounced forms may show itself independently of suggestibility. Which is the cause and which the effect of these two ? Dissociation as a cause may bring with it increase of suggestibility. We can understand why that should be so. Does increased suggestibility on its side bring dissociation? It may tend to do so. A person who is in an increasingly suggestible state responds to just the one stimulus before him-it may be a stimulus from the outer world, or an idea aroused in his mind by the experimenter. He responds with his whole mind and strength to the 1 Being part of a paper on The Self: Psycho-Analysis and PsychoTherapy, read before the Church Congress, Newport, Mon., on October 8,