Chapter 16 - Synopsis Of Methods

You have read the several principal methods of inducing hypnosis as set out in the preceding pages. We can briefly summarize these methods in the following synopsis. When you have the different steps firmly embedded in your mind, you can depart from the memorized words and develop your own methods, adapting your procedure and wording to the subject and the circumstances.

Briefly stated, the methods may be summarized as follows:

1. Alleviate fear and cause relaxation.
2. Explain what will happen, creating expectancy.
3. Divert the conscious mind to create an instant of passivity.
4. Talk sleep and its symptoms, creating a sleepy attitude.
5. Command sleep when mental condition of subject is ready.
6. Deepen sleep by:
7. Repeated suggestions of deeper sleep, deeper breathing;
8. Demonstrated hypnotic condition of subject to convince him of his helplessness; or
9. If difficult subject, pyramid hypnosis. See instructions for pyramiding hypnosis.

The above may be said to be an outline of the methods generally pursued, but some hypnotists do not use part of the outlined procedure. The stage hypnotists use a quick method for induction based on excitement and expectation to obtain a diverted and passive condition of the conscious mind. The subject is requested to come onto the stage to be hypnotized after remarks by the performer which create in the subject an expectancy of being hypnotized. The subject is quickly put through a routine, sometimes roughly, to throw him off mental balance, to disturb his composure, and then he is quickly subjected to the formula for inducing hypnosis, calculated to induce hypnosis in a few seconds in any good subject. If the subject fails to go into hypnosis, he may be subjected to humiliating remarks reflecting on his mental aptness, or some other personal remarks, which cause the other subjects who may not be hypnotizable to simulate deep hypnosis, whether they partially enter the state or not. The main idea being to so unnerve the subject, that his conscious mind is diverted for an instant and is passive, so that the idea of sleep goes through to the subconscious mind in such a manner that the conscious mind relinquishes control or is disconnected by the governing centers. The subject is then under the control of the hypnotist. Rapid fire commands prevent awakening until control is complete.

Another method depends on pressure on the back of the neck and on the vagus nerve and the carotid artery, causing a numbing effect on the brain. This is only for professionals and those with medical experience. It is dangerous and the pressure on the vagus nerve near the Adam's apple and the carotid artery cannot be maintained more than a few seconds as it is possible to cause serious brain injury. It is not recommended for beginners. Another quick method uses pentothal or amytal to assist in the induction of hypnosis. This is strictly for physicians and those with medical knowledge.

I feel that no one is justified in using any of the speed methods, which endanger the subject, except under very urgent circumstances. It has been my experience that the slower methods may be successfully used on the majority, if correctly applied.

Certainly a stage performer should not use any method which leaves a bad impression on the subject or the audience as to his methods or as to the treatment of the subject. Furthermore, I do not advocate deceit as a necessary adjunct to aid an entertainer using hypnosis. Some hypnotists deliberately tell the audience falsehoods about their methods in order to gain notoriety for speed or some other supposed superior quality. This is especially true of some who may be on short stage time. I do not say that quick methods should not be used which do not endanger the subject, but where post-hypnotic suggestions are used to speed up the stage performance, the audience should be advised of the fact and why it is done. Why should the hypnotist make a false claim of incredible and impossible speed when everyone who knows anything about hypnotism, knows that he is making a false claim? Such false claims may cause wonder in the ignorant but they do the science a great injury by prejudicing the more intelligent members of the audience against it. These persons are the ones who really count in any audience and may aid or hinder the advancement of the science. If you are a sincere student of hypnotism and desire to promote it to a place where you and I and others can use it to our good, and to the good of mankind, you will readily see that such cheap practices, false claims and deceit, are not to your good, or the good of all others following along the science trail with you.

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