Author's comment: 20% of people are not hypnotizable

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dennis Atkinson on October 19, 2011 at 6:10pm

Richard.  I would agree 20% is a small number.  I am not sure if your comments are being directed at me personally, or at hypnotists in general, but either way I don't see it as a bias.

If I were a licensed counselor such as yourself, I would use whatever is available in my bag of tricks to get a client from point A to point B.  If the hypnosis session was only 10% effective, and failed to move the client all the way to point B, I would still view it as effective, although I would use other modalities in addition.

I am not making a comment that everyone can be hypnotized or would allow the hypnosis process, or that hypnosis would be appropriate for all circumstances ... just the same as I am not saying any percentage of people are not hypnotizable. 

I think anyone who has an ability to focus their attention and allow the process can receive some help through the use of hypnosis. 

Richard Clark MFT said:

@Dennis

Thanks for responding. I think that most of the opinions expressed by hypnotists about this are actually suffering from the same sort of bias that the researchers opinions suffer from. I think that there is clearly a self selection bias for anyone and everyone that most hypnotists ever have the occasion to work with.

 

Could it be possible that those that do not respond well to hypnosis make a point of not ever agreeing to submit to an induction?

 

20% is a pretty small percentage to claim they are not suited for something.

20% of people can not effectively understand algebra.

20% of people can not sufficiently sing or play piano.

 

What would be so surprising about 20% of people can not focus and follow instructions sufficiently to gain benefit from hypnosis?

 

The thing I've always found funny is that you often hear from hypnotists that everyone is a good subject if handled appropriately. Then 15 minutes later they tell you they themselves are terrible hypnosis subjects.

 

Just saying.

 

Richard

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on October 19, 2011 at 6:20pm

This type of generalization also brings to mind the oft-quoted statistic that 1 in 8 women will suffer breast cancer. What is not stated is that:

1) that 1 may have specific genetic, environmental, nutritional or other influences

2) that the 7 may be naturally immune or may boost their immunity in a variety of ways

 

These types of statements only serve to monger fear and negativity..which is why I ignore them.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Clark MFT on October 19, 2011 at 6:39pm

Hi Dennis,

 

Thanks again for responding. I am directing the comments toward you because you are engaging me in conversation. That is the only personal aspect of it and it is meant to be a warm and thankful personal thing. The comments are more to all readers. AJ said he'd be surprised that 1 in 5 can't play simon says. I'd not be surprised that 1 in 5 suck at it and make constant errors.

 

I guess I like to play devil's advocate whenever I read polarizing or absolute statements. I think having a flexible belief system is an advantage to Hypnosis, Therapy, and Life in general. I don't think anyone can really know the Truth of much and I commend people that take time and effort to work at understanding things. I don't have to believe what they think they discovered but I am sure that whatever it is my experience has shown me is probably just as far from the Truth as theirs. I respect researchers in that they actually take notes and attempt to clearly retell what the have seen. Most of us just go off the top of our heads with opinions and state them like they are obvious facts. Myself included.

 

I do know I've had occasions (more then a few) where hypnotizing someone was more effort then I cared to make. I've seen the same for some of the best hypnotists I know and I know some good ones. It seems to me that the only people I ever work hypnotically with are those that are looking to be hypnotized. I'm guessing that is not that different then most hypnotists.

 

Anyway, I'm not sure if it's 3% or 30% of people that are difficult to work with hypnotically but I don't really care much. And I really really don't care much what other people want to think is the right percentage.

 

To me it's not much different then pointing out the silly people that believe in the existance of God. Their research is not all that strong either.

 

Richard

Dennis Atkinson said:

Richard.  I would agree 20% is a small number.  I am not sure if your comments are being directed at me personally, or at hypnotists in general, but either way I don't see it as a bias.

If I were a licensed counselor such as yourself, I would use whatever is available in my bag of tricks to get a client from point A to point B.  If the hypnosis session was only 10% effective, and failed to move the client all the way to point B, I would still view it as effective, although I would use other modalities in addition.

I am not making a comment that everyone can be hypnotized or would allow the hypnosis process, or that hypnosis would be appropriate for all circumstances ... just the same as I am not saying any percentage of people are not hypnotizable. 

I think anyone who has an ability to focus their attention and allow the process can receive some help through the use of hypnosis. 

Richard Clark MFT said:

@Dennis

Thanks for responding. I think that most of the opinions expressed by hypnotists about this are actually suffering from the same sort of bias that the researchers opinions suffer from. I think that there is clearly a self selection bias for anyone and everyone that most hypnotists ever have the occasion to work with.

 

Could it be possible that those that do not respond well to hypnosis make a point of not ever agreeing to submit to an induction?

 

20% is a pretty small percentage to claim they are not suited for something.

20% of people can not effectively understand algebra.

20% of people can not sufficiently sing or play piano.

 

What would be so surprising about 20% of people can not focus and follow instructions sufficiently to gain benefit from hypnosis?

 

The thing I've always found funny is that you often hear from hypnotists that everyone is a good subject if handled appropriately. Then 15 minutes later they tell you they themselves are terrible hypnosis subjects.

 

Just saying.

 

Richard

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on October 19, 2011 at 6:44pm

 

What would be so surprising about 20% of people can not focus and follow instructions sufficiently to gain benefit from hypnosis?

 

But 100% of the people on earth experience trance/hypnosis without following instructions or benefitting from it.   Hypnosis is natural.  Everythng that happens in hypnosis happens in "real life".  All "hypnotic" phenomena occurs spontaneously at various points in every life.

 

What I always say is some people won't trust me to follow my instructions.   Some people don;t like guys with spikey hair.   Some people won't respond to my process because I don;t know how to guide them as a unique person into trance.   But even though these situations may exist, they may respond to someone else, or in another situation....   meaning 100% can still be hypnotized- just perhaps, not by me...

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on October 19, 2011 at 6:49pm

Oh boy, Richard, you missed the entire concept. Those who "fail" are the ones who enter into trance. Those who "keep going" just take longer before they slip in. Only a particular type of mind avoids the magical induction. Hmm...I wonder who could override the teacher's efforts?

This is just another variation of musical chairs. Yikes! These are all trance games: Hop Scotch, 4-Square, Hot Box etc.  ;-)

Richard Clark MFT said:

 AJ said he'd be surprised that 1 in 5 can't play simon says. I'd not be surprised that 1 in 5 suck at it and make constant errors.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Richard Clark MFT on October 19, 2011 at 6:51pm

Yes Richard, I agree.

 

But it's kinda like saying that 100% of the people on earth are willing to have sex after a warm bath. Perhaps not with me tonight, but with someone sometime.....

 

Richard

Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com said:

 

What would be so surprising about 20% of people can not focus and follow instructions sufficiently to gain benefit from hypnosis?

 

But 100% of the people on earth experience trance/hypnosis without following instructions or benefitting from it.   Hypnosis is natural.  Everythng that happens in hypnosis happens in "real life".  All "hypnotic" phenomena occurs spontaneously at various points in every life.

 

What I always say is some people won't trust me to follow my instructions.   Some people don;t like guys with spikey hair.   Some people won't respond to my process because I don;t know how to guide them as a unique person into trance.   But even though these situations may exist, they may respond to someone else, or in another situation....   meaning 100% can still be hypnotized- just perhaps, not by me...

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on October 19, 2011 at 7:30pm

I had a client today who could not concentrate well enough to follow any of my directions. I don't think she was able to benefit from hypnosis. She was, however, excellent at going into trance. She just wasn't capable of participating in a guided trance . . .

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