Hello,

I saw some kind of mind experiment that was really shocking:

a friend of mine was "hypnotized" to believe he was smoking a cigarette, and he almost burnt himself when pretending to push it on his hand!! I'm not asking for any secret of course, just wondering if anybody could point me into the right direction on how to present this experiment.

Thanks

Lol how cool is that! But I have a feeling this has got something to do with the paranormal..I don't know, just guessing. If this was a magic trick, it WOULD be a great mentalist effect!

Kenton Kepper got a book called, Art of imagination. It teaches the magician on how to control the audience's action without using hynotise.

Well, I got the book, and I will say, it takes lots of guts to pull it off, and its not a 100% work thing, it takes experience to know what works and what wont. I didnt use the routine inside, but I use the concept of it in my blindfold acts,(You wont want the audience to run around while you are blinded)

So, unless your friend is really hynotised, if not, thats the closer I can get. Hynotise act is even more difficult to carry out. :lol:

Wa...as far as I know, such is the effect of real hypnosis. Unless... your friend was a stooge (or confederate, as Enrico would put it).

Hmm... can you describe more in detail what happened? Like how your friend happened to be in a situation to be hypnotized? And did he have a burnt mark after the whole thing?

I have honest doubts about the 'hypnotism' effect. Believe that your friend is likely to be a stooge.

That is really something like hynotism so do not under estimate the power of it. During my secondary school days, one of my male teachers was asked to be a volunteer for something like a hynotise thingy.He was asked to be laid down on 2 chairs at both ends.Then another female teacher was to stand on the his body while he was lying down on the both chair at both end. Later when the guy teacher was asked did he fell anything,he deny feeling anyone standing on his body.

Ah, Hypnotise does exist. And hypnotise can be really dangerous. You can manipluate someone to believe he is a creature or an object. But its very subjective to individual people, so not everyone can be hypnotised.

And about feeling anything, its very true. I wonder anyone watch a video clip by a great hypnotist, that actually make the person not feeling any pain when a whole needle is pierce thru his flesh. So its because of the person's past experiences and feelings that thru hypnostise, you can actually use that experiences and feelings, and the person will feel normal.

But once he is awaken, if it is a very painful experiment, he will feel the pain after that.

Top based on information that i read up on various sources when I wanted to learn mentalism. So whether its true or not, its up to you to believe. I myself never see a real hynotisim act, but I know of the one point hynotise, and vebal hynotise.

I believe hypnotism is true and has it's value. But... the effects are mostly not permanent. There are many people out there who claim that you can be hypnotized for success, for quitting smoking, for curing insomnia etc... they are not wrong, but the effect never last. I know, cos i've been a subject before.

Anyway, people are actually hypnotized in everyday situations. Just look at the tv commercials.

Hypnotism is most certainly real!!
Just look at the lecturers in a certain university... they do it all the time!! :P

Sorry, :off:

On a more serious note, though from the precious little that i know, not everybody can be hynoptised and certain people are more 'primed' for hypnotism ie. the effects are more profound on such people.

They are a lot of materials on hypnotism around, i'm sure you can find them if you search on the web. :)

A.

Basically there are two views of hypnosis: the skeptical view and the traditional view. I lean toward the skeptical view. The traditional view holds that there is such a thing called the hypnotic trance, and people in a trance are in an altered state of consciousness. I no longer believe in that point of view. I do not believe that hypnosis is anything special. This was after discussing the subject of hypnotism with a friend who did his master's thesis on the topic of hypnotism.

This friend of mine have been following the hypnosis research of Theodore X. Barber. In a typical experiment, one group of subjects is hypnotized and another group is not hypnotized. Both groups are asked to do the same thing. Such as, in one experiment it was suggested to the subjects that they were color-blind. In no experiment, did the hypnotized people do any better (or worse) than the unhypnotized group. There was no significant difference. Physiological studies, including things like brain waves, have shown that there is nothing unique about the so-called hypnotic trance. So what's the difference between hypnotized people and unhypnotized people? I don't know of any difference.

I agree with the statement, “To a certain extent all words hypnotize.” My conclusion is that hypnosis is nothing more than the power of words and images. Words and positive visualizations can indeed be powerful. Being in a hypnotic trance has nothing to do with it.

Maxwell Maltz, in his book PSYCHOCYBERNETICS, says that a man’s grip strength can be tested using a hand dynamometer and his grip is stronger after positive suggestions when he his hypnotized. This friend who wrote his thesis claimed that in psychology class, he have given those same positive suggestions (just words) to unhypnotized students and they too had stronger grip strength - fifteen percent stronger!

I know at least one book on hypnotism that use the words metaphor in their titles. Hypnotists and other good speakers use a lot of metaphors. For example, Barber suggests that if you want to go to the dentist and experience no pain (and no novacaine) that you imagine the tooth he is drilling is made out of wood. Barber also suggests that when hypnotized and non-hypnotized people are told to imagine that the right arm is a prothesis, made out of plastic, then both groups can leave their arm submersed in a bucket of ice water for equal periods of time. Beach-scene is a good visualization for anybody to use who wants to achieve relaxation.

Hypnosis makes use of so-called right-brain thinking (thinking with pictures) and left-brain thinking (thinking with words). You add the two together and you have something very powerful.

Words and images can be powerful, with or without hypnosis. Having said that, we cannot prevent being controlled (in part) by other people - anyone. Their speech affects us. (Another reason why your parents have a genuine case of concern when they see you "hanging" out with what they deem to be "bad company".) In the same way, hypnotism will not increase the memory of students studying for exams as Newpaper claimed a few years ago. (HYPNOSIS AND MEMORY by Helen M. Pettinati (editor). On p. 51 is a statement about “the lack of scientific evidence to document a memory-enhancing effect of hypnosis.”)

I was interested in increasing my studying ability sometime back using hypnotism. It's more a marketing hype then anything else.

Although a student cannot increase his memory using hypnosis, self-hypnosis tapes could increase motivation and could decrease test anxiety. The problem is that hypnosis is not something special in this regard. Prayer, meditation, and positive thinking (as techniques) can also increase motivation and decrease anxiety.

One favorite trick of stage hypnotists is to have subjects do the “human plank feat.” The subject is told “your back is stiff as a board” and then they lay out between two chairs. My friend have had unhypnotized students do this feat in class. No, there is nothing special about hypnosis.

I believe that the effect you are describing here is somewhat similar.

Are there any book or dvd that teaches hypnosis or deal with psycology beside the art of imagination? I am really interested in that part of magic. I have read "Pure Effect" by Derren Brown and i like effect that deal with people reaction though it is the advance stage of magic. B)

hypnosis is still a myth. One can tell it really exists if he/she encountered that before. As you all know, magicians normally uses stooge as their target. As far as i seen, I have not encounter real hypnotism. Anyone have the ability to hypnotised, i really would love to be your target. :P

As stated before, I mentioned that I do not believe there is such a thing as a hypnotic state. However, I do believe that hypnosis does work in the same way that suggestions will (as demostrated by scientific experiments). It leaves the spectator more open to suggestions.

I do have 3 DVDs at the moment by Dr. James Lazzarini. If you are looking for DVDs on the subject of hypnosis with magic routines, it might be a good starting place.

What are the titles of the 3 dvd ? I read about the act of imagination and it say "people may think they have become furniture, see themselves without pants - any number of wild seemingly "hypnotic demonstrations" are performed without paid helpers or real hypnosis." Larry, is it true that you can perform this with just more trainings and it is not hypnotism? If can then i am really going to get this book,the effect wil be stunning.

Sorry. Correction on my earlier post. Typed too fast. should have been 3 resources by Dr. James. 2 DVD and 1 book(lecture notes).

We hypnotists like to think that we don't fail but it is the hypnotee that fails. All hypnosis is self hypnosis. Was this person who hypnotised you a professional with experience and qualifications? I don't think he is because in my experience it is extremely effective. And besides, you would have to go for a couple of sessions for it to be effective especially if you require therapy (which is what really helps).

Overview of hypnosis

Hypnosis today is experiencing the greatest upsurge of widespread public acclaim that has been seen in the last two centuries. The practical application of hypnosis is daily gaining increasing respect from the medical and dental profession and many doctors and dentists refer their patients to hypnotherapists.

Hypnotherapy is recognized as a profession of standing in the business archives of the United States of America. Institutions have been established which specialize in hypnotherapy instruction. Bookstores are filled with an ever growing proliferation of books and publications telling about hypnosis and the wonders it can and has accomplished.

History of hypnosis...

First of all the nature of hypnosis..

How does hypnosis work?

Hypnosis, unlike sleep, allows the subject to remain awake and alert. In this altered state, subconscious mind becomes accessible and highly responsive to suggestion.

While hypnosis may resemble the state of sleep, it is actually closer to an intense concentration that removes extraneous sensory information. Similarly, when you are deeply engrossed in a novel or watching a movie, your mind becomes so focused on it that you might not even hear your name or when someone else is talking to you.

Now, why then is the subconscious mind so open to acting on suggestions given to it?

The conscious mind is capable of both deductive and inductive reasoning, whereas the subconscious mind, which controls the memory circuits, can only reason deductively and takes everything literally. Once hypnotic rapport is established, the subconscious mind becomes accessible and is exquisitely receptive to the hypnotist’s instructions.

The subconscious mind is the place where habits, behaviors and beliefs are stored. It is like a warehouse or the hard drive of a computer, where all of your past experiences accumulate. Many adult issues are traced an event(s) in early childhood that created an impression so deep that it carried over to the adult life and is never resolved on a conscious basis.

In the induction of hypnosis, the critical factor of the conscious mind is distracted. Suggestions can then slip past the conscious mind and enter the subconscious where they are accepted and acted upon without criticism. Positive and beneficial suggestions accepted and acted upon greatly increases the subject’s suggestibility, initiating the sensory spiral of belief resulting in conviction.

Different subjects have different levels of hypnotizability. In most hypnotherapeutic work, a light state of hypnosis is sufficient for effective therapy.

Myths surrounding hypnosis

Several myths surround the subject of hypnosis, mainly attributed to how modern movies and fictional novels portray it. The lack of proper and informed education to the general public is the cause of fear and apprehension regarding this subject. The very rapid spread of hypnosis has put it badly in need of being placed in proper perspective.

The lack of scientific information has brought about the following as the most common myths:

Myth 1: Loss of Consciousness
In this altered state called hypnosis, the subject does not lose awareness nor fall asleep. The subject is instead alert and aware of everything at all times and hears everything the hypnotist says.

Myth 2: Hypnotized people do crazy and ridiculous things
If you have witnessed a hypnotism stage show, you will no doubt leave with that impression. The perception is that the hypnotist’s commands are absolute and irresistible. However, the stage hypnotist is an entertainer first, therefore, he must invoke in volunteer subjects outrageous and comical behavior to put on an entertaining show. Hypnotherapy, on the other hand, is used for serious purposes, so naturally the subject will not be made to perform farcical behavior as seen in stage hypnosis.

Myth 3: Surrender of the will, loss of control
This myth is made popular by novels, popular magazine stories, comic strips, TV and the Hollywood movies. Most people believe that hypnosis is a surrender of the will to the all-powerful hypnotist. On the contrary, the subject is always in control as all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The hypnotist merely guides and develops the hypnotic state; the ability to be hypnotized rests within the subject.

Myth 4: Weak mindedness
A common misconception is that only the weak-willed or feeble-minded people can be hypnotized. Contrary to this popular belief, there is a correlation between intelligence and hypnotizability. It is difficult and often impossible to hypnotize morons, imbeciles, psychotics, or severely detached individuals. The greater the intelligence, the better the hypnotic subject.

Myth 5: Revelation of secrets
A frequent question asked, “Will I reveal any secrets while in hypnosis?” The answer is no. Hypnosis is wrongly perceived to be a truth serum of sorts, rendering the hypnotized subject incapable of lying, and robs the subject of the ability to keep embarrassing secrets confidential. Remember that the subject is always in control and the hypnotist acts as the guide.

Myth 6: Fear of getting “stuck” in hypnosis
As mentioned, the subject is at all times, in control. There is no fear of getting “stuck” and not being able to emerge from the state. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, and that suggestions given are for the benefit of the subject. If a nonsensical, immoral or negative suggestion is made, the subject can choose to ignore it.

Myth 7: Hypnosis against will
A person cannot be hypnotized against his will. Hypnosis is a condition that requires trust, good rapport and cooperation between the subject and the hypnotist.

Applications of hypnosis
One of the main benefits of hypnosis is in the nature of resolving personal conflict. In hypnotherapy, the subject under the skillful guidance of the hypnotist, re-lives and re-experiences past events and gets to the root of the problem. The subject is led through a process of self-discovery and healing which is completely natural and safe.

A similar case handled using psychotherapy or traditional counseling can take up to years of follow-up visits, whereas in hypnotherapy, it can be achieved and resolved within four to six sessions on average, hence the increasing popularity of hypnotherapy as a method of resolving these issues quickly. Smoking cessation may take as few as two sessions.

The following is not an exhaustive list of what hypnosis is applied to:

Abuse
Anesthesia and analgesia in the medical and dental field
Anger management
Alcohol abuse
Child birth
Children’s issues
Drug abuse
Emotional trauma
Improving memory
Improving work performance
Insomnia and loss of sleep
Motivation
Pain management
Past life regression
Police forensic work
Procrastination
Public speaking
Relationships
Removing anxiety
Removing fears and phobias
Self-confidence
Self-esteem
Sexual issues
Shyness
Sports performance
Stage fright
Stop smoking
Stress relief
Test and exam anxiety
Weight control

And much more.

An introduction ..

(An excerpt from Analytical Hypnotherapy Principles and Practice – E.A. Barnett, MD)

“Berne, E (1961) regarded therapy as a battle that involved four personalities; the Parent, the Child, the Adult, and the therapist. If the subject’s Adult can be enlisted alongside the therapist’s Adult as a therapeutic ally, then the odds for success are increased. If the therapist can also appeal to the patient’s Child, the odds against the Parent are then three to one. This alliance allows an even greater chance of success since, in most of the neuroses, Berne considered the Parent to be the prime target for therapeutic intervention.

In hypnosis, the Parent and the Adult are temporarily decommissioned and in regression analysis, the Child is being directly appealed to while maintaining the advantage of retaining the Adult and the Parent. Selavan (1975) agreed with this view, adding that direct communication with the Child in hypnosis allows for the re-examination of critical moments in its life which are still affecting present behavior. The Adult, present at this communication, can then enable a new decision to be made with a consequent modification of behavior.”


The 6 Principles of Analytical Hypnotherapy are :

First Principle
Identification of the Critical Experience(s)
It is this first stage which has always been regarded as the essential one in analytical hypnotherapy. A critical experience is one that, for the individual, has been responsible for a crisis in which a critical decision has been made; upon this decision future behavior will depend.

Second Principle
Understanding the Repressed Emotion and the Associated Feeling of Guilt
Unacceptable emotions experienced at the time of the critical event are repressed by the Parent ego state since their expression would meet with profound parental disapproval and the possibility of abandonment, if not physically then at least emotionally. It is the fear of this rejection and the possible parental abandonment which gives to guilt its intense power to control. It is therefore imperative for therapy to be directed at the elimination of such guilt. In order to accomplish this, there has to be full acceptance of these repressed emotions as normal and proper.

Third Principle
Recognition of the Current Irrelevance of the Previously Repressed Emotion
An emotion which has been located, identified and accepted, needs, before it can be relinquished, to be recognized as current irrelevant to the present environment. The present situation must be seen to be different from that responsible for the original emotion. Furthermore, the past protective nature of the emotion must be seen no longer to be necessary since the individual now has for his defense access to his normal emotions.

Fourth Principle
Relinquishing the Repressed and Repressing Emotions for Good
For years, the Parent/Child conflict has been a way of life for the subject, and thus a means has to be discovered to end the conflict so that these ego states can live in harmony. Once again, the Adult is called upon to deliver its wisdom in the task of terminating this conflict. It is at this time that the Parent ego state is further aided to understand that its role of controller of the Child can now be modified since the Adult has information adequate for the task.

Fifth Principle
Recognition of Resolution of the Parent/Child conflict
A critical experience, and the Parent/Child conflict resulting from it, cannot be regarded as having been satisfactorily dealt with until it is certain that the conflict is indeed at an end and all of the associated, outdated, uncomfortable and unnecessary tensions responsible for the symptoms have been relinquished. When ultimately successful, there is always a feeling of profound relief which marks the completion of this stage of therapy.

Sixth Principle
Rehabilitation
It is the phase necessary to ensure that the subject makes the essential post therapy readjustments in order to remain free from the symptoms. The judicious use of posthypnotic suggestions to give appropriate ego strengthening and to provide training in assertiveness is an essential part of this rehabilitation phase. It ensures that the subject will return to his world equipped to deal with it and remain symptom free.

Thanks a lot for your informative reply, what a great forum!

Anyway I found the source through another forum: the technique is Stop-Smoking Mentalism, at http://www.underwords.com

No of course there was no stooge, but I suspected it was not "real" hypnosis. Anyway I have ordered the book so don't hesitate to ask in a couple of weeks, I'd be glad to give something back.

Cheers!

What a coincidence :) I just reviewed the same book, will post it up in a couple of days... I'm sure you enjoyed it too! ;)

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