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General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Ians Daddy on 24/06/2003 22:53:44

Title: How does hypnotism work?
Post by: Ians Daddy on 24/06/2003 22:53:44
I wasn't sure if this would go under science or medical, but probably both. For the fact that it's just my curiosity, I'll keep it here.

I just read an interesting article about hypnotism. I used to be a bouncer at a comedy club and had seen these comedic hypnotists. It was amazing (you're getting sleepy) how they had these people doing their bidding. Some were people I knew and would not have done this kind of thing. When I saw this, (very sleepy) I started thinking of all the deviant things I could do if I learned this art.[}:)] However, I've been told and just read that the subject is not in a controlable state. That I would not be able to get their money and then sleep with them. Hmmm. Well, my question is this. (very sleepy)If the subject is still very aware, why is it that this works so well on skeptics and believers the same? I belive that the article that I read may have diluted the content and was wondering how much validity was in hypnotism. Is there anyone here (very sleepy) that knows how this works on the brain and how it can alter someones entire thought process, ie quitting smoking, losing weight, barking like a dog at a command, crying, etc. ? I've seen movies where the subject will hear a key word and act upon it. Can this be done? Is this possible or fiction? I just don't believe (very sleepy) to the fullest that a thought process can be embedded into another persons brain like data in a computer. Is there any fact to this? (very sleepy) Does this tie into subliminal messaging?

Just wondering,[}:)]

Ronnie
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Exodus on 24/06/2003 22:59:41
I never believed in hypnotism until i saw an act at my uni and two of my close friends were hypnotised. They made complete idiots of themselves and when i asked them about it at the end what they said was interesting... they said they knew exactly what they were doing but it just seemed right and completely sensible to be doing it... The thing that persuaded me was that they looked totally serious and normally i know they would crack up!

Was very funny!

Resident Tour Operator - The Naked Scientists
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Ians Daddy on 24/06/2003 23:13:23
I was told the same thing. They (the subjects) said that it was like a daydream. They knew what was going on, but just didn't give a crap. It was hilarious to see these people acting out and I knew it had to be fake or fixed until my buddy and my sister did it too. It's almost scary.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Quantumcat on 25/06/2003 01:10:11
Hypnotism opens the door between the superconcious and unconcious, letting ideas go straight to the unconsious without the superconsious analyzing them first.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!
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Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Ians Daddy on 25/06/2003 03:48:29
Interesting. Makes sense. So, the unconcious / subconcious is an uninhibited, carefree, wild, spontaneous, do-anything kinda thinker while the superconcious is a real paranoid drag. That sucks.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Quantumcat on 25/06/2003 03:53:42
Kind of. The unconsious is the part of the brain that's like a broom closet. Read about Freud.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!
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Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: bezoar on 15/07/2003 21:45:59
I went to a doctor once for hypnosis to overcome motion sickness.  I was totally aware of what was going on even while in trance.  In fact, didn't even think I was in a trace -- just felt relaxed.  The motion sickness has been steadily improving over the years.  I couldn't ride in a car without getting sick unless I was driving.  Now I can read in the car.  Of all things, I married a private pilot, so obviously I had to get over the sickness.  Now that it's gone, so is the pilot.  Go figure.

Bezoar
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Donnah on 17/07/2003 05:04:40
Bezoar, so at least something good came out of your marriage[;)].
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: bezoar on 18/07/2003 15:28:54
More than one good thing came out of it.  I got over the motion sickness.  While I was married to him, we opened a flight school, and the lack of good mechanics led me to become an FAA certified airplane mechanic.  And, when we made the property settlement, I got the condo.  All he got was his mousy little secretary.  I do think I came out of it much better.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Donnah on 18/07/2003 23:51:39
Bezoar, sounds like you got rid of a rat too.  Well done.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: bezoar on 19/07/2003 05:22:05
Thanks, Donnah.  I do think I sleep better at night now.  There are worse things than being alone, one of which is being in an unhappy marriage.  I am so enjoying my peace of mind.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Donnah on 20/07/2003 23:03:39
Bezoar, I couldn't agree more, and there are much worse things than being alone.  I cherish my solo time.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Pappy on 20/10/2003 20:14:24
Bezoar, Donnah.....bit of thread drift, eh! However, might I suggest that there are one or two nice guys out there that make NOT being alone pretty nice two!
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Ians Daddy on 21/10/2003 00:00:41
Yeah, me and Pappy. Take a number now, because we're about to go public!
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Donnah on 21/10/2003 03:33:12
Oh yes, I agree that there are some really nice men (like my son, boyfriend, Dad, brother).  The trick is not to waste time with jerks and invest your time with good folks, whether male or female.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: bezoar on 21/10/2003 05:41:27
Oh, I never said there aren't any good men out there.  And I refuse to let that ex of mine define my concept of men for me. He was just one rotten apple.  However, I have to admit, I haven't run into many of the good ones lately.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Pappy on 21/10/2003 14:06:49
Pappy's been happily married for years. Sorry Ian's Daddy, you're carrying the torch alone. It's in good hands though!!
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Ians Daddy on 21/10/2003 14:30:30
Thanks, Jim. I'll make you proud.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: drkev on 29/10/2003 17:12:19
I am well practised in the art of hypnotism. I regularly use it at uni to assist my friends with their revision and exams.

I cannot explain how it works as all of the Pseudo-science is mostly B******t. I just know that it does work.

Exodus was the hypnotist you saw by any chance a guy called Tony Lee? A Canadian guy? If so I was a subject in his show when He came to my uni (Portsmouth)

Live long and Love life

Kevin Fisher
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Donnah on 29/10/2003 20:44:58
Drkev, welcome to the forum.  Is Tony Lee related to Wayne Lee?  Wayne refers to himself as the Hip-Notist and was most entertaining when I saw him at the Calgary Stampede.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: drkev on 29/10/2003 21:27:05
He may be the same person as Tony was at the Calgary Stampede.

He was a short bald Asian guy with Ali G style clothing. Tony promotes himself as an adult hypnotist


Live long and Love life

Kevin Fisher
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Donnah on 29/10/2003 23:33:10
Wayne is a clean cut white guy and was at the Stampede in 2002 (maybe 2001).
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: Penguin on 15/11/2003 01:28:55
I've always been sceptic of hypnotism. I've still never seen it done in real life, only on tv. I've heard that the reason u can only be hypnotised if u want to be, a person who subconciously chooses to not be can't be. And that a hypnotist can't make the hypnotie ( <-- u know what i mean) do anything he wants, give u money, sleep with u etc. because u only do things in  a trance that that u would do normally. And to say that u wouldn't walk around clucking like a chicken i front of a crowd of ppl, it's your subconcious mind that keeps u from doing things u woulnd't. Your inhabitions can't be influenced by hypnotism. I am still as sceptic until someone can show me a person in a true trance or hypnotise me...
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: jojo on 15/11/2003 10:33:46
Hi Bezoar :).. what/how exactly did your doctor hypnotise u to get over ur motion sickness??(i went to see my doctor and she said there was no cure.. but i totally dont believe her).. pls tell me how i can get rid of it :))))

o and Drkev, how did u hypnotise ur friends to help them revise for exams and stuff? - im in the long and hard process now..

thnx, jojo
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: bezoar on 15/11/2003 12:46:33
What he did was to hypnotize me to the time of life when the motion sickness began, which, curiously enough was when my mother was pregnant with me and experienced a fall.  (I was later able to confirm this.)  The suggestions he then made were to let me know that it had it's purpose then, and might even have a purpose in the future again, but right now, there was no need to keep the sensation.  The three questions he asked me before we began were, "What's the worst thing you've ever done in your life?  What's the worst thing that ever happened to you in your life? and When have you been the most afraid in your life?"  I could easily answer questions one and two, but couldn't think of an answer for three cause I am not a scary person.  When I couldn't answer, he said that was the place we needed to go, and concentrated the sessions on fear.  And strangely enough, the effect was only minimal at first, and I was thankful for that, but over time, the effect has magnified to where I hardly have any motion sickness at all.

Bezoar
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: jojo on 16/11/2003 05:32:59
hmm thats interesting.. im gonna try that 'there's no need for that sensation anymore' one. :) tnx

jojo
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: bezoar on 17/11/2003 08:48:11
Actually, couldn't figure out any time whatsoever that I would have a need for motion sickness.

Bezoar
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: GlacierBlue on 26/11/2003 22:47:52
Motion sickness is the inner ears response to any number of things such as a shift in perception or a drop from a height. The inner ear sends this message not to "make you sick" as some tell it, but rather to alert you to your surroundings. If you removed the delicate balance mechanism you would be unable to walk in the dark, walk on uneven ground and catch yourself before you fall.

If the multi-verse is a real construct then in some universe Im your God.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: sean milford on 13/07/2004 12:34:51
This hypnotist tony lee you're talking about came to our uni but was cancelled as he was apparently not allowed to work here as a hypnotist as he had no public liability insurance as required by law in the uk and no work permit. And someone also complained that the contents of his act didnt not comply with the hypnotism act in UK. He apparently needed to apply for a licence from the local council but didnt.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: sean milford on 13/07/2004 12:35:41
This hypnotist tony lee you're talking about came to our uni but was cancelled as he was apparently not allowed to work here as a hypnotist as he had no public liability insurance as required by law in the uk and no work permit. And someone also complained that the contents of his act didnt not comply with the hypnotism act in UK. He apparently needed to apply for a licence from the local council but didnt.
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: matrixer on 12/09/2004 19:41:27
oh amazing but a "BIG JOCK"! yah maybe it works but i dont think so coz i dont have seen it yet and maybe not coz i think it dont works if it was then firstly i ll use it on my parrots coz they fly away from me i want them sitting on my hands...very sleepy..!!!
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: algol on 18/10/2004 04:17:48
Hello everybody, a new persons first post here.

I came in to look at this forum in the hope of finding some scepticism.  I was a full-time stage hypnotist for over a decade and, whilst it is true that you can use the technique to get strangers to do unlikely seeming things, the bottom line nowadays agreed by most scientists is that there is no such thing as a state of "hypnosis".

The best single book on the topic is "Hypnosis, Compliance and Belief" by Graham Wagstaff.

I know people who have been hypnotised will contradict me, but so they should: to "be hypnotised" is to fall for the illusion of "hypnosis" just like we fall for the illusion of magic when we see a good card trick.

Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: chris on 18/10/2004 08:53:51
Welcome algol

We're currently finalising the arrangements to get a psychologist who is an expert on hypnosis to come and talk about his research into the subject on the radio. His view is very similar to that you have set out above. Namely that, in the context of stage hypnosis, people are social animals and want to please. They therefore indulge the stage hypnotist's whim in order to avoid upsetting him.

What do you do now ?

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx
Title: Re: Hypnotism
Post by: algol on 29/10/2015 21:07:33
Hi.
Aplogies for an eleven year delay in my reply.

I have continued to be a stage hypnotist, for another eleven years (over 22 years now) but I have also earned a 2.1 honours BSc in Psychology and published four books on hypnotism.

The view you cite is not exactly the one I hold, but on the right track. Undoubtedly people  can have subjectively believeable experiences. But the antecedent variables are complex.
Title: Re: How does hypnotism work?
Post by: chris on 29/10/2015 21:20:30
Wow, that must be the longest latency of any forum contributor! Welcome back!