Chapter 8 - Other Methods

If a certain method of inducing hypnosis has been used on a subject, do not change. Use the same method each time, unless post-hypnotic suggestions as to the manner of induction have been given. By this, I mean where a subject has been put to sleep by any method, the hypnotist may suggest any means of putting the subject to sleep, changing his method, and shortening the process. While the subject is asleep, he may say, "Hereafter, whenever I snap my fingers you will go fast asleep." He may give a signal or suggest a procedure for obtaining deep hypnosis. He might say to the subject while he is asleep, "Hereafter, whenever I say 'Sleep,' you will go sound asleep instantly." This is repeated two or three times so that it will be impressed on the subject's subconscious mind, and so that after the hypnotist awakens the subject and repeats the words, "Go to sleep," the subject will instantly go to sleep, without the hypnotist doing anything more about it. When this is done, the method first used to induce sleep is not needed. Any other signal or key word may be used as will be explained later.

Relaxation Method Of Induction

This method depends on a pleasant voice and rapid fire talk which does not give the subject's mind an opportunity to wander away from the main idea of sleep. The word of the hypnotist and the imagination of the subject do the work. Seat your subject in a comfortable chair. Tell him to settle himself deeply in the chair and get comfortable. Place both feet squarely on the floor. Do not let the subject sit cross-legged or chew gum. Crossed legs slow circulation in legs and gum-chewing diverts attention. Tell him to relax and place his hands in his lap. Tell him to close his eyes. Now say, "Relax. Relax your arms. Relax your legs. Relax your nerves. Think of nothing except my words. Imagine you are doing just what I say you are doing. You are becoming very comfortable. You are completely relaxed. Just think about sleep." Then say, "You are going sound asleep. Your arms are heavy. Your legs are heavy. Your head is heavy. You are very tired and sleepy. You are going sound asleep. Your head is getting very heavy. You can hardly hold it up. You are very tired and sleepy. You are going deep asleep. Breathe deep. Relax and go to sleep. You are going deep asleep." (At this point the subject should begin to nod.) Continue to talk, "You are asleep. Just relax and go deeper asleep. You are going deeper and deeper asleep."

Here the subject should indicate by his head falling forward that he is asleep. Lift his hands and drop them. If they are limp he is asleep. From here proceed as before outlined. If the subject fails to respond quickly and you have the time to devote to longer procedure, you may continue to talk to him about sleep until he sleeps, or if you do not have the time for longer procedure, just awaken him. (Be sure to do this because he might be in a state of hypnosis not discernible.) Then dismiss him with the statement that it will require more time than you can devote to him to put him to sleep and that at later time, you will be glad to hypnotize him. Be sure to make it clear that some persons require more time to hypnotize than do others.

In using this method, do not speak too fast, but on the other hand, do not speak so slowly that the subject has time to think of something else. The best rule is to adapt the speed of your talk to the mental ability of the subject to comprehend the meaning of your words, without causing extra effort. This is difficult to explain, but experience will assist you in gauging the speed of your talk and the wording of it, so that it keeps the subject's mind occupied and is also fully comprehended by him. This is very necessary if you wish to get the best results. The subject's mental reactions must follow right along with your chain of thought for it to properly affect his nervous reactions. If it becomes broken with other thoughts, the reaction is delayed. Sleep may not ensue.

Some operators seem to have great success with a quick, short, snappy delivery. They give no time for the subject to think about anything else except the thoughts desired. The subject is expecting to be hypnotized and his thoughts are seized upon with speed and dispatch. He is swayed backward, slightly off balance, his head tilted upward and the sleep formula applied so quickly that he is asleep before he knows what has happened. This is the professional operator. Do not think you can do this as soon as you read this. Much experience will be needed. I know one such operator who claims he can hypnotize a subject in five seconds. I have seen him do it. I also saw him fail on two subjects out of four, with such delivery. Perhaps if he had taken more time he would have succeeded with those two as well as the other two. This system will be explained later.

Testing The Subject For Depth Of Hypnosis

Nearly every book on hypnotism advises the hypnotist to test the subject for depth of hypnosis by putting him through some form of test such as telling him that his eyes are stuck together and daring him to open them, or telling him to clasp his fingers together and telling him that they are locked tight and that he cannot open them. These tests are all right if the subject is asleep and is unable to open his eyes or unclasp his hands. But if you dare him to open his eyes and he is not deep enough asleep to prevent him from opening his eyes, then you have lost your power, either partly or entirely, to hypnotize that subject. The subject may lose completely, any confidence he may have had in the hypnotist as such. I find it best to try tests where no dare is involved. The operator may test the subject by lifting his hands and letting them drop back. If they drop back limply, the subject is asleep. Lifting the eyelids is another test. If the subject is asleep, the eyes will be rolled upward. If not asleep, the subject will look at the operator and may even laugh or grin. Such a subject is only pretending to be asleep. I have seen this happen when to all outward appearance the subject was asleep. If the subject's hands remain where the operator turns them loose for an instant, he may be asleep and thinks the operator desires his hands to remain where they are placed. But most likely he is not asleep and is either bluffing or in a light stage of hypnosis. If asleep, the hands should be absolutely limp unless a contrary suggestion is made. If asleep, the eyeballs should be rolled upward and no change of expression will occur when eyelid is lifted. If the purpose of hypnotism is for anesthesia, a stronger test for pain reaction should be made. This may be done at the site of the operation by pricking the flesh with a sterilized needle. This test may also be used to ascertain if a subject is faking hypnosis, but an experienced operator will not need to use it.

Notice the completely passive expression of a subject under hypnosis.
After the subject goes to sleep, the so-called tests may be used to induce deeper hypnosis. It works like this. The subject is in a light sleep. The hypnotist desires greater depth. He raises the subject's hand and stretches his or her arm straight out from his shoulder saying, "Your arm is as stiff as steel. It is rigid as a steel bar. You cannot bend it. Try as hard as you can; you cannot bend it. Try . . . but you cannot." The subject will try, but will be unable to bend his arm. The hypnotist desires deeper hypnosis and proceeds. . . . "Now relax your arm and lower it. It is normal again. Go deeper asleep. Now your eyes are closed tight. The lids are stuck together. You cannot open your eyes. Try as hard as you can; you cannot open your eyes." The subject will try, but cannot open his or her eyes. After each test, the hypnotist says, "That will do. Stop trying. Deeper asleep ... go deeper asleep . . . deeper asleep." If the subject is not deep enough asleep at this stage to give post-hypnotic suggestions, he may be put deeper asleep by continuing with this line of deepening hypnosis. The secret of this procedure lies in the effect it has on the mind of the subject. Each time he or she finds that some command of the hypnotist cannot be broken, the firmer is the conviction in the subject's mind that he is hypnotized and must obey his commands. The firmer this conviction grows, the deeper asleep the subject goes. Is this clear? We will see why this is true when we study rules of the mind.

Tests For Hypnotizabiuty

Some hypnotists advocate tests for hypnotizability of the subject, but I find that this is a waste of time. If a person is a good subject, he can be put to sleep while the test is being made. If he fails to go to sleep and there is no object in putting him to sleep which would justify a lengthy procedure, then dismiss him, saying that it would require more time to put him to sleep than you can devote to him. If you are performing in public, use the group system and select those who react quickly to your suggestions. The failure of some to go to sleep is easily explained to the audience after the others are deep asleep. Never show any discomfiture at the failure of a subject to sleep.

Nearly every person of ordinary intelligence can be hypnotized. If a person with ordinary intelligence does not have enough imagination to cause his mouth to water when his attention is directed to a lemon with reminders of its taste, then such person cannot easily be put to sleep by hypnotism. I would state this as a general rule but even such a rule may have its exceptions. I had a case similar to this once. A girl desired to be broken of an incessant habit of smoking cigarettes. I used the disc and counting method outlined heretofore. Her eyes became droopy and finally closed. I lifted her hands and dropped them. They were not limp, but fell back into her lap. I told her that her eyes were stuck tight and that she could not open them. I dared her to open them. She did. I then pyramided hypnosis on her, as will be explained later, and made the suggestions to quit smoking, with all the disagreeable sensations of nausea, etc., if she did not quit. Then I awakened her. To test her suggestibility, I held up a lemon and asked her to look at it and to think about its taste. I suggested that it was nice and juicy and very sour. I asked her if her mouth was watering. She said, "No." Here was a case of a placid, quiet, stout girl without enough imagination to be hypnotized in the regular manner. Now, witness what happened later. It has been stated by other psychologists that smoking hinders nerve activity. This may be true or it may not be true. Three days later, I tried to hypnotize her again. I used the disc and told her not to close her eyes until she had to close them. After reciting the usual words of the formula for inducing hypnosis, I began counting, One-Two, One-Two, as has been explained. Finally, her eyes failed to open on the count of Two. Then I began pyramiding hypnosis on her. I did not tell her to wake up, but ordered her to open her eyes and gaze at the disc. Then, I began talking sleep to her and counting One-Two, etc., as in the first instance. Her eyes closed again, and again she was ordered to open them and gaze at the center of the disc. Nothing was said about waking. This procedure was kept up until her hands were as limp as a rag. Four different times this procedure was followed until her hands were so limp that I knew she was asleep. This was done without once suggesting that she awaken or that she was asleep. Then I ordered her to go deep asleep. Again, I lifted her hands. They were as limp as a wet rag. Now, you just try to make your hands and arms as limp as a wet rag while awake; you cannot do it. In this case, there was a total lack of muscular reaction. She was hypnotized. I then suggested the disadvantages and harm of smoking and the desirability of quitting the habit; that she would desire of her own free will and accord, to quit within a week. Then I awakened her. She vowed she was not asleep, knew everything that happened and was not a good subject. A few days later she quit smoking. She said she just decided to quit. This girl had been told that she should never submit to hypnosis; also, she thought that because she could hear me, she was not asleep. This, together with her unimaginative disposition, hindered the process, but in spite of all this, a deep enough stage was induced, to stop the smoking habit.

You will note that sleep was not mentioned in the above process of induction, especially in connection with opening the eyes, until after sleep was induced. The reason for this is because the subject was convinced in her mind that she was NOT asleep, and any suggestion that she was, by commanding her to awaken instead of to open her eyes, would have had the effect of strengthening that idea, thereby creating a counter-suggestion in her mind, and she would have aroused herself.

Until the subject is so deeply under hypnosis that he cannot pull himself out of it, the best procedure is to make such suggestions as will not arouse antagonistic reactions. The subconscious mind is incapable of deductive reasoning, but it is not entirely devoid of inductive reasoning and individual action if some suggestion contrary to its generally accepted ideas should be made before the proper depth of hypnosis has been reached. Even in deep hypnosis, the subject will awaken if any suggestion is made which violates the moral principles of the subject, or deep-seated ideations, commonly called inhibitions. The reason for this, too will be fully explained later herein.

Another Quick Method

There is another method I have used, which is similar to the last one. It is a quick method. It only works on good subjects, persons who are very suggestible. It is good for public performances. Either seat the subject in a comfortable chair or let him stand. Never worry about the subject falling. They seldom do. Place your hand on the back of his or her neck with thumb and forefinger resting, one under each ear, just below the mastoids. Press lightly with your thumb and forefinger on the nerves there. Place your right hand on his forehead. Tell him to tilt his head back until he can see the ceiling. Now talk rapidly, but not too fast for him to comprehend your meaning. Speak with firmness and conviction. Have confidence that he will go to sleep. The following wording is suggested, but it is not necessary to follow the exact words.

"Close your eyes. Just relax. Think about what I am saying. Pay strict attention to my words. Do not think about anything else. Your head is heavy. You are very tired and sleepy. Your eyes are tired and the lids are about to stick tight together. They are sticking shut. Soon you will not be able to open them. You are going into a deep, deep sleep. You feel you must go to sleep. You are very tired and sleepy. Relax and go deep asleep. Go deep asleep. Now, I am going to pass my hand over your face five times. When I pass my hand over your face five times, you will be fast asleep." Begin counting slowly to five. On each count, pass your hand downward over his or her face gently and slowly. I do not let my hand touch the face of the subject. When you have completed the count of five, release your hold on the back of his or her neck and lower your hands. Tell subject to straighten his or her head up; also, that he is fast asleep and cannot open his eyes. If subject tries to open them (they nearly always try) and fails, stop him or her with the command, "That will do. Stop trying. Go deeper asleep. Stay asleep until I command you to awaken." Repeat the command two or three times. Test subject's arms for limpness. If he or she is asleep, you may proceed with other suggestions.

Suppose that you have followed the instructions and subject opens his or her eyes. You can tell him to close them and go through the procedure again, giving such suggestions as you believe will be followed, or you can just dismiss subject with the statement that it will require more time to hypnotize him than you have to spare; that some persons require more time than others, that all persons are not hypnotizable, and that imagination and concentration are necessary qualifications of a good

subject.

The falling backward test is illustrated above. A very suggestible person is made to fall backward by telling her that she is falling backward until she does actually fall backward. I do not find this test necessary because I can hypnotize a person who would respond to it while I am making the test.

The above method is a quick and sensational method for inducing hypnosis and will work only on good subjects. It is most suitable for entertainment purposes, but may be used in the medical clinic if steps are taken to deepen the hypnotic state.

Some subjects will reach a deep stage when this method is used, but it has been found that the quicker the method attempted, the fewer subjects reach a deep stage of hypnosis. In fact, the quicker the method attempted, the fewer are the subjects which will reach any state of hypnosis. However, with the present knowledge of hypnotism, it is possible to put more persons to sleep in a much shorter time than formerly required. Some of the old operators required hours to induce hypnosis in their subjects. The operation of the human mind is understood more fully today than ever before. This accounts for much of the success of the modern hypnotists. We will discuss laws and mechanics of the human mind later. It will greatly benefit any hypnotist to know these laws and how the mind operates. You will learn that these laws are as positive as the law of gravitation. You will learn why people go to sleep when the hypnotic formula is followed. You will learn why people act like they do. You will gain great understanding and sympathy for your fellowmen. You will be able to help yourself and to give others aid and comfort.

The student is anxious to learn every method for inducing hypnosis as soon as he can and I will proceed to give the methods before I discuss the theories. Most books begin with history and theory. I have departed from that usual method and will follow with theories and history. Only so much of history of the science will be given as will aid in understanding it and in giving the student confidence in it as a basic science.

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