Recent Findings
If you think…Hypnosis ….
IS a matter of good imagination
Reality is…Imagination is unrelated to hypnotizability
Relaxation is an important feature of hypnosis
Reality is..Hypnosis has been induced during vigorous exercise
It's just compliance
Reality is...Many highly motivated subjects fail to experience hypnosis
Hypnosis is a matter of willful faking
Reality is…Psychological responses indicate that hypnotized subjects are not lying
Has something to do with a sleeplike state
Reality is…It does not, hypnotized subjects are fully awake
Responding to hypnosis is like responding to a placebo
Reality is…Placebo responsiveness and hypnotizability are not correlated
People with certain personalities are more likely to be hypnotized
Reality is…There are no substantial correlates with personality types
People who are hypnotized lose control of themselves
Reality is…Subjects are perfectly capable of terminating hypnosis or just saying NO
Hypnosis can be lead to do acts that conflict with their values
Reality is… Hypnotized subjects fully adhere to their usual moral standards
A 1996 study by the National Institute of Health Technology assessment panel judged hypnosis to be an effective intervention for alleviating pain from Cancer and other chronic conditions. In a few cases the degree of relief met or exceeded the relief brought by morphine. However, the relief should not be used alone for treatment of any medical or psychological disorder.
Hypnosis can improve the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for conditions such as obesity, insomnia, quitting smoking, hypertension and anxiety related disorders. It is also useful in treating some dermatological disorders (including warts), irritable bowel syndrome, hemophilia, nausea associated with chemotherapy.
Hypnosis was not as effective with drug addiction and alcoholism.
This information is from a recent article in
Scientific American Magazine
(July 2001) (http://www.sciam.com)
Authored by Michael J Walsh
Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Tennessee. Award winning author and Publisher of 2 books about Hypnosis and other psychoanalysis.
