Is hypnosis a scientificaly proved something, or is it considered paranormal?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Tyrrell on March 30, 2010 at 3:00am

Hi Tanno,

Hypnosis got its paranormal tag back in 1784. Franz Mesmer was using hypnosis to affect all kinds of dramatic cures but he didn't describe what he was doing in psychological terms but rather attributed his technique to mystical what he called "animal magnetism" causes. He described a "universal fluid" that needed to be tapped in order to "mesmerize".

In 1784 King Louis XVI appointed nine members of the Faculty of Medicine (including Benjamin Franklin) as commissioners to investigate animal magnetism. Some of the investigators were working on behalf of the
Royal Academy of Sciences.

The commission conducted a series of experiments aimed, not at determining whether Mesmer's treatment worked, but whether he had discovered a new physical fluid. The commission concluded that there was no evidence for such a fluid. Whatever benefits the treatment produced was attributed to "imagination." So the idea that hypnosis is mystical and not a main stream psychological technique may have stemmed from this time. The baby was thrown out with the bath water as far as science and hypnosis was concerned. But things have changed.

Hypnosis has been researched and very real changes in the brain of hypnotized subjects have been found (along with myriad research studies that show the efficacy of hypnotic treatment) Take a look at:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6385-hypnosis-really-changes-...

Also take a look at my own take on hypnosis in this article: http://www.uncommon-knowledge.co.uk/articles/uncommon-hypnosis/what...

I hope this is useful

Thanks

Mark

Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on March 30, 2010 at 6:35am

Hypnosis is the exploitation of a naturally occurring human condition.

Permalink Reply by Hugh Cole on March 30, 2010 at 12:41pm

Hypnosis is a naturally occuring Human Phenomena. It is in essence how we learn. There is nothing Paranormal about it.

Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest Hypnotist On the Planet

Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on March 30, 2010 at 1:54pm

There are numerous scientific studies that conclusively demonstrate the effects of hypnosis on the brain. It's not a paranormal event or phenomenon. It's recognized by the American Psychological Association, the the A Medical A, and the A Dental A, just to name a few.

-Scott

Permalink Reply by Don on March 31, 2010 at 2:48am

Hypnosis is not paranormal, as many others have so conclusively and irrefutably stated on this thread. But it may be a gateway to the paranormal, just as it is a gateway to many other phenomena which also occur in the absence of hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a catalyst or a facilitator of many different types of experience, including but not limited to, the psychic, mystical, sexual, and motivational realms. Once the potential of the experiential approach to hypnosis is fully realized, as Bettie Davis said, "Hold on to your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy night!"

Don

www.hyperempiria.com

Permalink Reply by Raymond LeBleu on March 31, 2010 at 6:23am

Regarding the question "Is hypnosis a scientifically proved something, or is it considered paranormal?"......

Reference a 1989 book titled Trance On Trial by Alan W. Scheflin & Jerrod Lee Shapiro....Contains a chapter on the legally accepted definition of hypnosis and has an entire section on "The Hypnotherapist In Court"....a must read for any hypnotherapist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Can be purchased at Amazon.....For the preview go to:

http://books.google.com/books?id=YqSsNCkr4P8C&pg=PA154&lpg=...

Permalink Reply by Hugh Cole on March 31, 2010 at 7:34am

Scheflin won an award for that book. can't quite recall what it was. It will come to me when I finish the post I think. He also wrote the mind manipulators and is generally considered a mind control expert, if such a thing exists. I have generally enjoyed his work, but haven't read trance on trial. I'll check it out. Thanks raymond,

Hugh Cole
The Pretty Goodest hypnotist on the Planet.

Raymond LeBleu said:

Regarding the question "Is hypnosis a scientifically proved something, or is it considered paranormal?"......

Reference a 1989 book titled Trance On Trial by Alan W. Scheflin & Jerrod Lee Shapiro....Contains a chapter on the legally accepted definition of hypnosis and has an entire section on "The Hypnotherapist In Court"....a must read for any hypnotherapist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Can be purchased at Amazon.....For the preview go to:

http://books.google.com/books?id=YqSsNCkr4P8C&pg=PA154&lpg=...

Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on March 31, 2010 at 7:15pm

There are several religious extremist groups out there with similar teachings, it doesn't make it true, or make it a part of the occult, it is just lumped in because it is not understood.

John

Khem said:

According to this testimonial, hypnosis was taken out of the realm of the occult and promulgated as a new "science" as part of a deliberate three-part plan to enslave the minds of the masses:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3WdTFwk9j4

Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hanover on March 31, 2010 at 7:35pm

Hi Tanno,

Some reading materials for you:

More Metro hospitals embrace alternative care like hypnosis - The D...
Univ. of Hull researchers prove hypnotic state shows up in brain sc...
Imaging study reveals hypnosis has real brain effect - BBC News
Hypnosis Study Reveals Brain's 'Amnesia Centers'
Dental Hypnosis Study: People Are More Suggestible Under Laughing Gas
Children Can Greatly Reduce Abdominal Pain with Guided Imagery

Kathleen
Marketing and PR for People who Value Results

Scott Sandland, C.Ht. said:

There are numerous scientific studies that conclusively demonstrate the effects of hypnosis on the brain. It's not a paranormal event or phenomenon. It's recognized by the American Psychological Association, the the A Medical A, and the A Dental A, just to name a few.

-Scott

Permalink Reply by Tanno van de Kamp on April 1, 2010 at 2:16am

So, in the end, I can consider hypnosis scientificaly proved (just to be sure I understood this correct).

Permalink Reply by ILA on April 1, 2010 at 2:55am

To, Tanno van de Kamp from ILA

Psychic healing, Faith healing , Mesmerism, Hypnotism etc and other occult terminology used from ancient time, regarding curative powers, used by medical and non medical personalities, as we read in history of hypnotism were considered as paranormal power of healing, and were classified as paranormal behavior of the person.

See other paranormal behavior of the person.
http://psychical.weebly.com/

But gradually , decade after decade, doctors, healers, therapist studied this subject with open mind and scientific approach, it has come out of occult nature. The underlying principles were discovered as "power of suggestions on the subconscious mind".

The 'hypnotic behavior' of the person is a 'paranormal behavior'. It is neither abnormal behavior nor general behavior.

ILA