Whilst in a mad fit of utter busy-ness today… Someone pointed out to me an interesting article about hypnosis that featured at the Scientific American website and I thought I’d share it here today because it confronts many of the common misconceptions about hypnosis whilst being easy to read… Let me show you what I mean…

In relation to hypnosis:

IF YOU THINK…
It’s all a matter of having a good imagination.
THE REALITY IS …
Ability to imagine vividly is unrelated to hypnotizability.

IF YOU THINK…
Relaxation is an important feature of hypnosis.
THE REALITY IS …
It’s not. Hypnosis has been induced during vigorous exercise.

IF YOU THINK…
It’s mostly just compliance.
THE REALITY IS …
Many highly motivated subjects fail to experience hypnosis.

IF YOU THINK…
It’s a matter of willful faking.
THE REALITY IS …
Physiological responses indicate that hypnotized subjects are not lying.

IF YOU THINK…
It is dangerous.
THE REALITY IS …
Standard hypnotic procedures are no more distressing than lectures.

IF YOU THINK…
It has something to do with a sleeplike state.
THE REALITY IS …
It does not. Hypnotized subjects are fully awake.

IF YOU THINK…
Responding to hypnosis is like responding to a placebo.
THE REALITY IS …
Placebo responsiveness and hypnotizability are not correlated.

IF YOU THINK…
People with certain types of personalities are likely to be hypnotizable.
THE REALITY IS …
There are no substantial correlates with personality measures.

IF YOU THINK…
People who are hypnotized lose control of themselves.
THE REALITY IS …
Subjects are perfectly capable of saying no or terminating hypnosis.

IF YOU THINK…
Hypnosis can enable people to “relive” the past.
THE REALITY IS …
Age-regressed adults behave like adults playacting as children.

IF YOU THINK…
A person’s responsiveness to hypnosis depends on the technique used and who
administers it.
THE REALITY IS …
Neither is important under laboratory conditions. It is the subject’s
capacity that is important.

IF YOU THINK…
When hypnotized, people can remember more accurately.
THE REALITY IS …
Hypnosis may actually muddle the distinction between memory and fantasy and
may artificially inflate confidence.

IF YOU THINK…
Hypnotized people can be led to do acts that conflict with their values.
THE REALITY IS …
Hypnotized subjects fully adhere to their usual moral standards.

IF YOU THINK…
Hypnotized people do not remember what happened during the session.
THE REALITY IS …
Posthypnotic amnesia does not occur spontaneously.

IF YOU THINK…
Hypnosis can enable people to perform otherwise impossible feats of
strength, endurance, learning and sensory acuity.

THE REALITY IS …
Performance following hypnotic suggestions for increased muscle strength,
learning and sensory acuity does not exceed what can be accomplished by
motivated subjects outside hypnosis.

Interesting one, eh? Especially seeing as it was in the Scientific American!