History of Hypnotism
This is an excerpt from the paper...
Hypnotism is a form of mental control that is misunderstood and that has acquired an aura of magic, in part due to the way it has been used by charlatans and for entertainment purposes since the technique was first developed. Hypnotism remains a controversial issue, but it has also been found to have a positive therapeutic value in a variety of psychological and medical situations. Shreeve and Shreeve (1984) note that considerable research has been conducted into this issue over the last four decades so that hypnosis has become more firmly established as a valuable adjunct to traditional methods of therapy. Hypnotic techniques are not used extensively to relieve or overcome a number of physical illnesses: "Over the past twenty-five years, in fact, hypnotherapy has gained familiarity and at the same time respectability with many members of the medical profession, who either learn to practice the art themselves or willingly refer appropriate patients to a qualified hypnotist" (p. 11). Shreeve and Shreeve also note that the origins of hypnotism are shrouded in the mists of antiquity, since healing in a trance state is one of the oldest of the medical arts. It was practiced by primitive man, who attributed the trance state to a divine origin. The 3,000-year-old Ebers papyrus describes the hypnotic procedures used by Egyptian soothsayers, and the method was used under different names by the Hindu fakirs, the Persian magi, the Indian yogi, and the Greek oracles. Belief in m
. . .
nd extensive use of hypnosis, we are still only at an early stage in our understanding of the nature of hypnosis, and there is no general agreement on how it works, how it enables physical and mental processes to be modified and even controlled, or precisely what hypnosis is (Karle, 1988: p. 18).
Karle defines hypnosis as an induced state of abstraction. In special states of abstraction, the consciousness becomes more precisely focused. Karle also states that all hypnosis is self-induced, although a therapist can help the individual go into the hypnotic state more quickly or more easily. However, this occurs only if the subject goes along with it and chooses to go into the trance state (pp. 22-23).
When an individual is in a trance state, his or her conscious mind, the seat of the critical faculties, is at rest. The hypnotist distracts the conscious mind to deal more directly with the suggestible subconscious. The subconscious is an immense storehouse of our past experiences, thoughts, feelings, and impressions, whether these are consciously remembered or long forgotten. Once a state of hypnotic trance has been induced, the subject has free access to the undefended subconscious (Shreeve and Shreeve: p. 25).
Salter (1973)
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Shreeve Shreeve, Medical Association, Middle Ages, Mead Mesmer, Bio-Feedback Training, , Induced Sleep, Anton Mesmer, James Braid, Professor Bernheim, shreeve shreeve, hypnotic techniques, hypnosis treatment, blood pressure, healing power hypnotism, hypnosis form, planets influence, wellingborough northamptonshire, heightened suggestibility, power hypnotism, heightened suggestibility subject, karle hypnosis,
Approximate Word count = 1565
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
More Essays on History of Hypnotism
|
Customer Service
to Over
32,000 Professionally Written Papers!!!
