Hypnosis in Psychology

Hypnosis in Psychology

Both hypnosis and psychology are fields that are wider than any specialty. Psychologists share the study of hypnosis with physicians and dentists, in particular. On the academic side, they share psychology with sociologists, neurophysiologists, psychiatrists, and many other specialists. The distinguishing mark of the psychologist is his interest in mental and emotional processes, whether theoretical, experimental, or applied. In the practical use of hypnosis, his place is close to the psychiatrist in clinical areas, but independent in his dealings with the dynamics of subjective and behavioral processes. A number of psychiatrists are also psychologists.

The demonstration that follows is again an example of the induction technique. The subject is Doctor C, who assisted in a previous induction demonstration (Demonstration 10). This affords an opportunity for follow-up and for contrast, as well as for elaboration of the guiding factors involved in both instances. Matters of dynamics, considerations in clinical observation of the subject or patient, and specialized techniques will be discussed on a general basis.

Demonstration 16

SUBJECTIVE RECALL FOR PRIOR HYPNOSIS

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

I’d like to ask Doctor C for his comments on what happened last week. I have in mind going through the same sort of thing again.

SUBJECT

Well, I haven’t thought much about this since last week. I remember that I sat here and you had me hold my fingers in this fashion (Index finger and thumb separated). You had me look at them, and then slowly close them. By the time they were closed, I imagine I was in a light state of trance, because I felt sleepy and I wanted to close my eyes because I felt it was more comfortable to close my eyes. And then you did a hand levitation. As a matter of fact, you did two hand levitations. Then you asked me where I thought my right hand was in relation to my nose and where I thought my left hand was in relation to my nose, and I flunked that one, I guess.

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

No.

SUBJECT

No? (Laughs) However, I do recall that it was a pleasant sensation and I was rather reluctant to come out of the trance. I think that’s when I realized it was the deepest I had ever been in a trance. I have been in a light trance before in practice sessions. Also, one doctor did a hand levitation demonstration with me in San Francisco, in my first contact with hypnosis. Last week is, I should say, probably the third time that anybody has worked with me in hypnosis, and I feel that I was able to go into a much deeper state than of course I could at the start. Is that the type of thing that you wanted?

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

Yes. Do you have any comments?

SUBJECT

Well, I don’t know that I have any particular comments about it. Of course, my interest is increasing in it.

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

Thank you, Doctor.

REPETITION OF INDUCTION (FINGER-THUMB JUXTAPOSITION)

DOCTOR C (to subject)

Now, if I may, I would like to try the same procedure again, bringing my fingers together and letting you watch them. (Right index finger and thumb permitted to go together automatically during these comments.) And now, Doctor C, I’d like to have you relax as I discuss with the group the sort of things that have happened.

RATIONALE FOR FINGER-THUMB BY HYPNOTIST

DOCTOR C (to audience)

Last time, as I was bringing my fingers together, I discovered that they were held apart, with a definite feeling of resistance to juxtaposition. At that time, I had told Doctor C that he would relax. I therefore felt that he was working in reverse to my suggestion. It was an intuitive awareness. I was reading directly to his unconscious from my unconscious, as it were, with the sensation that my fingers were pulling apart. I then reversed matters to say that things would become clearer to him. Some persons wish to become more aware, to have things more definite, not to relinquish control or awareness; it was on that basis that I reversed the technique. Obviously, no one else was aware of this, because no one else could see the feelings in my hand or in my fingers. Yet, I am sure that unconsciously at least, Doctor C responded very definitely and very strongly to that shift in approach.

DOCTOR C (to subject)

And now, would you care to try levitation of either or both hands?

DOCTOR C (to audience)

Levitation could, of course, include lifting of the arm, lifting of the hand, motion of any finger, and also any other indication of relaxation or emotional reaction in the individual. These comments that I am making could be interfering to some degree. Not being somnambulistic, the subject could respond to them. Actually, the “explanation” about levitation was also a series of indirect suggestions for possible modes of hypnotic response on the part of the subject.

DOCTOR C (to subject)

Those deep breaths are good.… And every breath you take, you find that you can relax more and more completely, but the relaxation is on your own terms, whatever you wish, whatever you feel is appropriate.

MODERATE TRANCE

DOCTOR C (to audience)

The closing of the eyes, as you know, removes external distraction. (Indirect recognition of subject’s progress.) Now, regardless of superficial evidence, at this moment, Doctor C is in a moderate trance.

DOCTOR C (to subject)

A good, deep breath, relaxing, relaxing, relaxing, still deeper and now in a moderate but somewhat deeper trance.… Getting closer and closer to a full-scale trance. There are momentary excursions into a deep trance.… Just relax, let yourself go, and remain in that trance. That’s better. Now you can go indefinitely deeper.

DOCTOR C (to audience)

Telling the subject his actual progress, when the statements are correct, is very impressive to him and greatly facilitates the induction. For these purposes we do not need a stuporous trance.

DOCTOR C (to subject)

You can go deeper and deeper moment by moment, enjoying the experience, comprehending it, becoming accustomed to it. It’s entirely your choice what you wish to do with this trance, whether to relax, to remember things, forget things, think of things, or to wonder about any number of things.… Now, Doctor, for a few minutes I will exchange comments with the audience, leaving you free to carry on your own line of thought, but also to record for your future reference anything that was discussed.

USE OF FINGER-THUMB TECHNIQUE

QUESTION

Does it make any difference whether your fingers are close to the side, or the palm is upward?

ANSWER

When patients use the fingers themselves, the gravity works against the force if the hand is palm upward. It is a more spectacular performance. Any position is perfectly adequate, however.

INTUITIVE JUDGING OF TRANCE DEPTH

QUESTION

What criteria are you using for checking depth of trance?

ANSWER

Strictly intuition. I ask questions of my own fingers, numbering the thumb one, little finger five, on a one to five scale. One is the waking state, and five is over the edge into a deep trance. And I ask my unconscious periodically how deep the effect is. It’s a matter of testing one’s own hunches or intuitions. That, of course, is a matter of experience and practice.

QUESTION

Then would you say there is rapport on the so-called unconscious level?

ANSWER

Yes, I do feel that there is rapport on an unconscious level.

DEEPENING TRANCE

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

Now, Doctor C, is there anything that you would like to do with hypnosis?

SUBJECT

Well, it would be interesting to me if I could go into a deeper trance.

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

All right, how deep do you think it is now?

SUBJECT

I feel a tension in the right arm, but it has a numb feeling when you touch it. I mean it doesn’t have the sensation it would ordinarily have if you touched it.

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

Well, that sensation actually was the cord from the microphone. (Sacrifice of impressiveness of sensation for sake of future better rapport with subject.) … And now, how did that feel? (Arm was passive, but not cataleptic.)

SUBJECT

Very light, as though it could come up very easily.

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

All right, we’ll let it drop again. Now, what else do you have in mind.

GLOVE ANESTHESIA SUGGESTED BY SUBJECT

SUBJECT

(Deep breaths.) I believe I would like to have you try a glove anesthesia.

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

All right. Which hand?

SUBJECT

The right would be perfectly satisfactory.

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

Good. In that case, let’s draw the line for the anesthesia right at your cuff line. When that anesthesia is complete, your left forefinger will go up as high as it possibly can. (Turning of full control over to subject.) In the meantime, I will talk to the audience. When the finger is high enough, either you or one of the audience will remind me.

USE OF CHALLENGES

QUESTION

What would happen if you tried some so-called test procedures at this stage, challenging him? Supposing you were to tell him, “Now, Doctor, you cannot open your eyes,” what do you suppose would happen?

ANSWER

Working in a clinical way, I tend not to do that because I am interested in future benefits and values for the patient. I may cajole or tease, or otherwise engender doubts in the person about the depth of the effect, the results, the direction of procedures, but only in terms of a long-range plan, so that the depth is not too important. I can gauge light, medium, deep without difficulty. This demonstration, of course, illustrates a consistently passive approach.

PROVING DEPTH OF TRANCE

QUESTION

But in terms of people who tend to doubt the matter of an individual’s depth, 1 might say right now that I’m not sure I agree with you that he is in a medium trance or a deep trance. What could you do to prove it to me?

DOCTOR C (demonstrating)

If I were setting out to prove depth, I would first of all use a subject who was not too good. I would use one where the conflict (or resistance) was obvious. Working with patients, I am not concerned about that. I may have a person in a deep trance and, if he chooses to think that he is not, what does it matter? I still get results. At certain times, by questioning it is possible to get a person to go into deeper and deeper effects. Presently I’ll show you with Doctor C the sort of thing that can be done.

DIRECT SUGGESTION BETTER FOR ANESTHESIA

QUESTION

Can’t you get a quicker anesthesia in the hand by doing a direct suggestion?

ANSWER

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Dec 10, 2015 | Posted by in General Dentistry | Comments Off on Hypnosis in Psychology

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