Hypnosis has been around for thousands of years in many different cultures. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it was mainly viewed as a curiosity rather than a valid treatment.
Hypnosis, what is it in psychology?
Today, psychology hypnosis recognised as an effective tool to treat a range of disorders including anxiety, chronic pain, high blood pressure, insomnia, and stress. It is a method for inducing a trance or dream-like state. We are still not completely sure how it works. It should be used in conjunction with other treatments rather than on its own.
The brain has different levels of awareness which range from completely alert to fully asleep. These states have been mapped using a device called an EEG (electroencephalograph). When the brain is calm, it produces a pattern called alpha waves.
The theory is that alpha waves allow the subconscious to be more accessible to therapeutic suggestions. This belief is the basis for hypnosis. Hypnosis can be deliberately induced in a clinical setting, or it can occur spontaneously as daydreams or complete focus and immersion into a task.
You cannot be hypnotized into doing anything against your will. Suggestions are likely to be taken to heart, but only if they are acceptable to the person who is being hypnotized. You cannot be hypnotized against your will. It is a completely voluntary process, and you are always in control.
About ten percent of people are exceptionally easy to hypnotize. These people typically have a number of things in common including the ability to get lost in a movie or book, being highly creative, and an ability to stay mentally focused. About eighty percent of people are reasonably open to hypnotic suggestion, with the remaining ten percent labelled as resistant.
Levels of hypnosis in psychology
There are many different ways of inducing hypnosis. They include being guided by a qualified hypnosis practitioner, the use of audiotapes, and imaginative or relaxation techniques. The use of imagery is an important tool for relaxing the mind.
The state of hypnosis feels similar to that dreamy state you are in just before you fall asleep, except you remain aware of your surroundings.