http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/...d_20041028.ram

"Hypnosis is an altered state of awareness" Encyclopaedia Brittanica 1996.

Scientists say , that you are neither awake nor asleep....but somewhere in between !

97% of the population , can be Hypnotised , according to one source !

The average number of people , that can be hypnotised , in a "Theatrical Environment" , ie "Stage Shows" etc , is approximately 10 %.

The difference between the two sets of figures , is that the Stage Hypnotist , selects members of the audience , that can be hypnotised , very quickly , and who go deep into trance quickly.

Fast enough , to make the entertainment interesting , and allowing the Show to Flow !

It is believed that in the "Stage Show" environment , the person who is hypnotised , has a complete by-passe of the "Conscious Mind" , and the Hypnotists instructions are carried out , without the reasoning mind being involved.

In the event that anything is said or instructed , that clashes , with the Hypnotised persons beliefs, that person , will wake up out of the Trance Induced State.

What is Hypnosis ?

It is a very relaxed state of mind and body , from where sometimes miraculous changes can be made......that can confound Critics , Scientists and the very Laws of Nature itself !

I LOVE IT ! Austin , you need to experience it ! You will enjoy it !

Your Mind is More Powerful , than you think !

I have and I do. I merely see it for what it is, though; namely, one state among many where an individual`s inherent capacity for focussed attention and imagination are brought to the fore. The key components of hypnosis are as I have claimed many, many times: Belief, Compliance. Expectancy. Environment.

I accept that you may choose to process this socio-cognitive experience in terms of some sort of special altered state, which is fair enough, although inaccurate I would suggest. The information is out there. How you choose to process this growing body of evidence is up to you.

More generally speaking, I often wonder what is taught on the joe average Hypnotherapy course. How can one reliably employ (this is NOT a dig at you Peter, relax) hypnosis when one is not familiar with the debates around hypnosis and its application? It is akin to flying a plane and not being aware of thermodymanics. Yes, the plane would still fly but it would be better if the pilot had some sense of what keeps it in the air. He would be a better pilot for it.

Hi All,

When I first learned how to drive, I was simply taught the basic things that I would need to know in order to reliably control the vehicle in most circumstances.

Some years later, I became involved with auto racing so I began to learn the theory behind driving, weight distribution, road cambers, angles of attack, limits of adhesion and so on. The higher demands and dangers of auto racing versus regular driving placed higher demands for both knowledge and experience on the driver, I found.

Still, I found that there were some drivers even on the professional circuit is still didn't understand the first thing about these principles and yet had an incredible instinctive knack for driving. Their practical skill base seemed to somehow take all these other things into account even though the drivers in question wouldn't have been able to say much that was intelligent about drag coefficients or how many G's they were pulling through a curve. In fact, a few such 'naturals' had suffered a decrease in driving ability as a result of over training, it seemed, so there was always attention given to how much might be too much in cases like that.

It was also true that some of the drivers who knew all the right answers to those questions would never rank very high on the scale. They just didn't seem to have the natural instincts and ability to pull them through.

Now personally, I only ever trained as a lark because I am far too massive, even at my best fighting weight, to ever really be that successful as a driver. And I still love driving so I took away the skill set I wanted to take away to allow me to pursue the occasional twisty winding road and explore the limits of adhesion...

So maybe just how much you need to know might depend on who you are and where you're going?

Be Well,

Michael Perez

(The key components of hypnosis are as I have claimed many, many times: Belief, Compliance. Expectancy. Environment.)i

OK Austin , let's take your theory and expound it !

Belief ............most people in my experience , do not believe that they can be Hypnotised.

Compliance........I think you are mixing up, Stage Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy......Compliance , might be necessary for Stage Hypnosis , but why in Hypnotherapy ?

Expectancy......in my experience , most people do not know what they should expect from Hypnosis.......except perhaps in Stage Hypnosis.

Environment......as there is no set standard of environment.....except perhaps in a Stage Situation........could this be were your presupposition is coming from again.

The facts are Austin , that Hypnosis , was being used over 2,000 years ago , before people understood what it was (and most still don't, even though they may think they do ).....and Hypnosis can be and has been done successfully on children as young as 3 years of age, and people of very low IQ......in both cases , your criteria , would not fit , the circumstances.

What is your definition of Hypnosis Austin ?

You say you have experienced it ! What was your experience ?

Where did you experience Hypnosis ? In a theatre ? In a Group or Training session ? Or in a Therapy situation ? And when ?

I find it amazing , that on a site , of a Subject , that was based on one man's method of Hypnosis , that there are not more inputs here , on the What is Hypnosis? Question !

Also there are no contributions , re the different "Trance States" , often utilised in NLP . Come on guys and gals....speak up...speak out !

You might find this extract from my manual useful, Peter.

[Hypnosis is the]... Art of securing a patient’s attention and then effectively communicating ideas that boost motivation and change perceptions of what’s going on” (Hammondn D., 2006). It is the confluence of a range of social, psychological and yes perhaps even physiological processes but it is NOT a single extraordinary phenomena. There is NOTHING magical or unique about the hypnotic state; it is simply one of many NATURAL alternate states of consciousness that can occur independently of hypnotic inductions (Harary, K.,2006 in “The Trouble with Hypnosis” in Psychology Today). According to Gilleran (1995; 2003; 2005; 2006) “hypnosis” is “The process of effective interpersonal & intrapersonal communication!”

Gilleran (2006)
Extract: ONLP Manual (Rev.) (2006).

(According to Gilleran (1995; 2003; 2005; 2006) “hypnosis” is “The process of effective interpersonal & intrapersonal communication!”)i

Austin , what is "effective interpersonal & interpersonal communication "?

I'd be interested to know how hypnosis relates to the flow state.

* Are the brainwave frequencies important? If so, are they predominantly theta (deep relaxation) or delta (sleep)?
* Is there a particular mix of amplitudes and frequencies?
* Is the brain bathed in a particular chemical soup of neuro transmitters etc?
* Is it necessary for the two hemispheres of the cerebrum to be in balance?

It seems to me that, with modern imaging machines, there must be plenty of data available on the physiological and electro-chemical aspects of the hypnotic state.

Has anyone got hard information or can they point to where it might be available?

Well, in the context of an interaction with a client, the following variables would be crucial to a successful outcome:
Rapport
Attention
Compliance
Empathy
Honesty
Commitment.

They all require good communication skills to function be it on an interpersonal level (person to person) or on an intra-personal - reflexive - level (self to self).

Peter, it is NOT me per se. You have to stop personalising it. My position is pretty much the orthodox position. I cannot help the fact that hypnosis courses are more often than not badly taught by people who do not know what the hell they are talking about. This is not my problem.

I have nothing more to say here. I have no more courses to plug. Believe what you will.

My list would be slightly different.

Attention
Rapport
Sensory feedback
Ecology

Accuity
Compliance
Honesty
Empath

Oh, and a comfortable chair to avoid some bright spark making a mnemonic.

Michael

Greetings all,
With regards to Michael Papworth's request for more information from electronic imaging technique, I have lots of EEG experience in hypnosis. Yes delta + theta and some beta in certain combinations are useful states. ALpha is entry level relaxation, not entirely as interesting to research... please look at my website IBVA UK - Neurofeedback Bluetooth EEG interactive control and go to my EEG Gallery for some visual examples. May we cerebrate this moment ! Luciana

Electronic Imaging Technique EIT (?)

Is this similar to like a Lie-Detector test (-wire attach to between your finger-nails), except that when you're not lying it tells you when you're lying to yourself?

If so feedback then - we have the ABC+D when what states of rhythym that you're currently working on. Centerpointe?

When I'm in the "C" State, can I suggest that I'm Stephen Gilligan and can photoread? Will I still be stupid - or becomes nominalize the 'stupid and have taken that away from me?

Anyone more would like to discuss this EIT on this hypnosis thread?

Will this eqpt take away my stupidity or maybe just lessen it so that I may not feel robbed?