Hypnosis is a unique phenomenon. Often he is surrounded by an aura of mystery, as well as numerous prejudices. Perhaps because of this, he attracts the attention of people.
However, hypnosis is not at all supernatural. It is also incorrect to draw his analogy with magic. He has nothing to do with her. This method is not a suggestion, although under it it increases markedly. Hypnosis in psychology is a tool or technique that has great potential and great power.
Definition of a concept
Hypnosis is understood as a temporary effect that is exerted on a person’s consciousness, which allows changing the functions of self-awareness and personal control. This is a phenomenon when a person is introduced into a special state due to sound or light signals. At the same time, it slows down the work not only of consciousness, but of the whole organism as a whole. A person who is in a hypnotic state begins to unconsciously execute the commands received, while changing his behavior.
A bit of history
Humanity has been familiar with hypnosis since ancient times. Shamans, magicians and sorcerers were able to bring a person into a state where he stopped responding to pain, noise or light, while performing the actions inspired by him. Such manipulations sometimes made it possible to cure the patient from various ailments. For many centuries, no one could explain such an unusual effect on people. This gave rise to the faith of peoples in the witchcraft abilities of sorcerers.
The name Hypnos in Ancient Greece was the god of sleep, brother of death and son of night. And today under hypnosis we understand a special condition. The person who is in it does not sleep and at the same time does not stay awake, but at the same time receives a very unusual healing effect.
The use of hypnosis by ancient healers
The pre-scientific period in the history of this phenomenon has more than one millennium. In former times, hypnosis (even if it was not called by ancient people at all) was most often used not for medicinal purposes. It was used by worshipers who were considered priests, magicians, prophets, wizards, etc. These people were not at all interested in the materialistic interpretation of this phenomenon. It was beneficial for them to represent him as something incomprehensible, mysterious and supernatural, accessible only to the elect.
But the priests of Asclepius (Ancient Greece) and the Egyptians used hypnosis in order to heal the sick. They performed such rituals in the temple of Serapis and used techniques that allowed them to quickly enter the patient into the desired state. For this purpose, monotonous sounds were created, special music was played, the patient's gaze was fixed on a shiny object. Attention was paid to stroking, passes, and laying on of hands.
Creation of a scientific direction
Historically, the introduction of a person in a special condition began to be used to treat many ailments. Thus, hypnotherapy arose. She became the first method of mental treatment.
Hypnology as a science has been developed since the mid-19th century. This happened thanks to the hard work of James Brad. This English surgeon coined the term “hypnosis”. The word became popular and forever established in life and in science, displacing the previously used name "magnetism". It was used by Brad's predecessor and his mastermind - a doctor from Austria, Franz Anton Mesmer.
Explanation of the phenomenon
In France, two schools arose immediately, each of which was engaged in the study and influence of hypnosis on humans. Representatives of one of them believed that the roots of this psychological phenomenon are hidden in imagination and suggestion. And it is only worth removing them, and the patient will not be able to be put into a hypnotic dream. Adherents of another school believed that such a phenomenon arises due to the impact on a person of heat, light and sounds. Charcot, a French neurologist, even concluded that hypnosis is a manifestation of hysterical neurosis caused by artificial pathways.
However, the conclusions described above were disproved by Kharkov physiologist professor V. Ya. Danilevsky. The scientist conducted experiments on animals and was able to prove that man and our smaller brothers are equally susceptible to hypnosis. And, as you know, representatives of the fauna do not possess imagination. The nature of hypnosis was largely explained by the works of the Russian scientist physiologist I.P. Pavlov. He explained that a person has a process of inhibition during sleep in the brain. When a patient is put into a state of hypnosis, he does not capture all the zones of the cerebral cortex. As a result, some of them continue to stay awake. Through such areas, the contact of the hypnotist and the client is provided. In this case, various reactions to suggestions begin to occur automatically. From that moment on, the phenomenon of hypnosis received its rather convincing scientific explanation. It has become quite widely used in medical practice with the aim of treating patients suffering from various mental disorders. They also found application for hypnosis to relieve stress, that is, intense emotional disturbance caused by negative emotions.
Practical use
Using various techniques and types of hypnosis, specialists are able to "program" a person. For example, a lower sensitivity to pain and an increase in the body's ability to deal with them. Hypnosis is an excellent method to cope with bad habits. During such an impact, a person is impressed that he does not want to drink or smoke. This arouses in him an aversion to alcohol or to tobacco.
It is believed that with the help of human hypnosis, one can get rid of various psychosomatic diseases, psychological problems and phobias, sexual complexes and obsessive fears. In a state of trance, a person is not only instilled with the correct installation, but they also find the main cause of his problems.
The essence of therapy
The effect of various types of hypnosis in psychotherapy consists in the fact that at the moment when the patient enters into a trance by a specialist, his consciousness “turns off”, and the unconscious comes to the fore. In this case, there is a significant weakening of many physiological and mental functions. Among them are self-awareness and personal control. Thanks to this, the specialist gets direct access to the subconscious, which allows him to eliminate the causes and symptoms of existing problems.
A state of trance
What happens to a person put into a hypnotic state?
This can only be understood if you yourself experience its effect on yourself. So, one who is in a trance state:
- feels a concentration of attention;
- calm and relaxed;
- able to answer questions;
- perceives the received offers.
The main purpose of introducing into a trance is to obtain the greatest possible control of a person over his physical condition, behavior and feelings. Let us consider in more detail hypnosis, types of hypnosis, the functions of hypnosis and the technique of hypnosis.
Hazardous exposure
What types of hypnosis are there? They can be not only therapeutic, but also very dangerous. Sometimes a person does not even know what they are trying to enter into a state of trance. These types of hypnosis have a negative effect on the suggested. It is believed that only specially trained people are capable of fulfilling them. And they do it only to do harm. Such types include, for example, forced alpha hypnosis.
People who have seen how a person is brought into a trance state, or themselves have been exposed to it, argue that it is enough for such a specialist to simply look at a person so that he conveys everything that is needed. A simple layman begins to recognize such latent hypnosis only after the program has already begun to take effect.
Classic exposure
How many types of hypnosis exist in modern medicine today? As a rule, three types of exposure are used to treat clients, with the help of which specialists can correct the patient's perception and his mental state. In this case, the doctor gains access to the human memory. One of these types of hypnosis is classic, or directive. What is the essence of this method? Among all types of hypnosis, this is different in that the patient, entered into a state of deep trance, receives certain settings in the form of an order. This is a ban on drinking alcohol, aversion to smoking, ignoring phobias, etc. The technique of directive hypnosis is considered quite tough. After all, orders come in an authoritarian form. However, it is worth noting that the phrase-order incorrectly selected by the specialist is able to eliminate one problem, laying the foundation immediately for the formation of another. The fact is that when using this technique, the root cause of the psychological complex or dependence is not eradicated, but only its manifestation.
When conducting classical hypnosis, a specialist makes a suggestion directively, which is an external intrusion into the sphere of an unconscious person. What will be the reaction to such an "intervention", no one can predict in advance. That is why all the words spoken by the hypnotist during the session should be well verified, careful and accurate.
Permissive effect
This is the second of the most commonly used types of hypnosis in psychology. Classical exposure, as a rule, has a limited scope. It is used to eliminate stuttering, resulting from fright, hysterical paralysis, phobia and some other conditions, the causes of which are reliably known. The directive method fixes these problems quickly enough and at the same time radically. But in other cases, psychotherapists use other types of hypnosis. They do not have a prescriptive nature, and the doctor accompanies the patient in a trance. In these cases, the person goes to where his unconscious allows him. Such types of hypnosis in psychology have the most safe effect on the patient.
One of them is the resolving method. It was developed by Milton Erickson for a directed search for the source of the problem, as well as for its consistent elimination. In a session using this technique, the patient is introduced into a trance. After that, the specialist begins to use his imagination. The suggested person does not just receive a specific command. He goes all the way, searching for the source of the problem and fixing it. When using this type of hypnosis, the main role is played by visualization. The patient should imagine the very cause of the problem, as well as getting rid of it in the form of pictures. These images will be deposited with him on a subconscious level.
In the human psyche, such attitudes are not perceived at all as an extraneous order. The problem finds its natural awareness. That is why Erickson’s hypnosis is milder when compared with the classic, and more effective.
Accompanying Impact
What types of hypnosis in psychology are popular, but do not have a prescriptive nature? Among them, an accompanying effect can be noted. Such hypnosis is also called "trans-rungaytung." Unlike the classical and resolving effect, when using such a technique, the hypnotist does not inspire people with any attitudes and does not give orders. He simply “accompanies” the patient according to his subconscious. After a person has been immersed in a trance, the specialist conducts a constant conversation with him. This is precisely what allows the patient himself to find in his subconscious those ways that will lead to the elimination of the existing problem.
It is the classical, resolving and accompanying hypnosis that psychotherapists most often use in their practice. It is worth noting that the effectiveness of such therapy will directly depend on the professionalism of the specialist, as well as on those individual characteristics that the human psyche has. An important role is played by the degree of patient confidence in the hypnotist.
Regressive effect
This is a type of hypnosis for adults. Today it is still a little-studied phenomenon. Indeed, during a session of applying this technique, a person is deeply immersed in the past or in the future. And this lies the main difference between the effects of regressive and the types of hypnosis discussed above. So, the specialist inspires the patient that he is in an earlier period of his life. And this may be the time until a person is born.
During such a session, many of the physiological parameters of the patient correspond to the suggested age, including his thinking, speech and facial expressions. Gradually, the hypnologist passes with the client throughout his life. The patient is even in the future. This is done in order to identify problems in the form of stresses, anxieties and fears, long forgotten by a person, but deposited on his character, physical and mental health. When a patient lives one or another age period, the doctor makes appropriate suggestions. This allows you to track or completely remove the consequences of psychological trauma, as well as its manifestations in the future.