Other Terms Used For Hypnosis

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on April 29, 2009 at 1:52pm

Saw another one just the other day on here: Hyperempiria. I guess you are looking to fund your research by grant that is signed off by the IRB or something. You could also ask that they provide some documented proof that says hypnosis is a dangerous practice.

Or, you could just say that your research will be utilizing naturally occurring positive response techniques without aid of any drugs.

How sad is it that you have to resort to such as this. I hope your Piled High Dollars degree is worth it.

John

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jan Krüger on April 29, 2009 at 2:06pm

There is a bit of material about a so-called "flow" state, where things just work naturally and smoothly. A trance state, in other words. The term "flow" is fairly well-known in some fields; you could simply research mental exercises to access the "flow" state. This neatly sidesteps the problem that if you call it something with images or visualization, all techniques that are not based on imagery are hard to justify. It also has the advantage that there is existing material using this term that you can refer to.

More semi-reliable information about "flow": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)

Here are a few others (you can mix and match the components, of course).
guided focusing
power meditation
(good ol') relaxation techniques

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shirley R. Patterson on April 29, 2009 at 3:26pm

"Or, you could just say that your research will be utilizing naturally occurring positive response techniques without aid of any drugs."

I like this one. I am finishing up a research project on parental grief and am thinking my next project will be on Grief Work and Hypnosis. If I come across the same situation as you, I may use the above verbage.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Synapse on April 29, 2009 at 3:44pm

I like Jan Krüger's idea. If it's a recognised psychology term I think you are on a win-win.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Thal on April 29, 2009 at 3:45pm

I read Tom's contribution and agree.(been there). You have to present research to defend your thesis proposal, just to get it off the ground with the IRB.

Here, I believe you need to do a reframe of your attitude: The IRB is not "bunch of stuffy PhD's that need to be educated." The IRB is "a group of highly educated professional watch dogs, whose role is to CYA the institution and your researcher posterior". Treat them with the respect they expect and deserve!

To wit:
Do not attempt to baffle them with BS. (Bovine Excrement).
It is far better to BS them! (Blind with Science)
Do your home work, be ready to present the research with the pro's and con's of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique, as Tom advises.

Now from my reading of your REAL research hypothesis is "I want to demonstrate that hypnosis is effective in treating performance anxiety." Musicians just happen to be your chosen target group. Frankly, without cracking a journal open, I can not imagine that there is not already a raft of studies about performance anxiety in different therapeutic settings going back decades!

Part of doing a PhD thesis, is the attempt or the intention to contribute something new to the literature. Consider this carefully in preparing your proposal--"What NEW knowledge can I contribute to my discipline with this research?"

These are the kinds of discussions you should be having with your thesis advisory committee. It's their job to guide you around the research and institutional roadblocks, and to put you on the path to a successful research experience. Their consultation out to carry more weight with the IRB than comments from the peanut gallery of a public forum.

Also, I might caution you that Imagery Training, Creative Visualization, Creative Imagery and Sensory Awareness Training ARE NOT intended to be synonyms for Hypnosis. You may need to present a precise definition of each method and describe it's practice as distinct from hypnosis to get IRB approval to use any of these techniques. (These methods share elements in common with hypnosis, to be sure. Examine how are they different.)

A better way to get research approved is to pit two therapeutic methods against each other to see which works better. Then you have a control group, method one and method two, to analyze. This also shows YOU have an open mind about the results of project.

I was going to give you my two cents worth... but looking back... that will be 5 cents!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tranzkey on April 29, 2009 at 4:13pm

2 cent's worth - Call the phenomenon an "altered state of consciousness" that deals with a person's "perception of reality," usually, but not exclusively, by invoking the "connotations and sundry linguistical associations" of words to "heighten suggestibility."

If it were really me, in a university setting, I would a euphemism to replace "hypnosis," as you already said, and then I would make appointments to meet/discuss your project with professors of gestalt and linguistics.

Gestalt is the psychology that focuses on perception of reality.

The linguistics prof ALREADY KNOWS the power of words, that's why he/she is fascinated about the field.

If you the gestalt and linguist in any way close to what I suggest, you would really have to shit in the fireplace, not to have them eagerly excited to help you every step of the way, in your proposal writing process.

Been a long time since my school daze, but EVERY professor I ever knew lend an ear to the situation we are describing.

Best wishes with this...

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on April 29, 2009 at 5:33pm

Hi B-

cognitive reframing
autogenic training,
self-hypnosis training (Has a lot less baggage than hypnosis)

Come to mind-

Hi Tom --
Like I was telling you -- there is a serious probelm when otherwise well educated people. in this case members of an IRB dismiss hypnosis out of hand because of all the misconceptions and negative associations

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tranzkey on April 29, 2009 at 5:51pm

Good - kind of stuff that the gestalt prof be helping you with on your project...

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt Davis on April 29, 2009 at 8:17pm

Hey Brian,

I vote for "Creative Visualization" Good luck with this! I'd love to hear more about your research.

- Matt

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fable Goodman on April 30, 2009 at 1:02am

Hello Brian,

There is a reason why most universities have a policy, that Students do not use hypnosis in thier projects.
this is sometimes different with PHD students, doing a post doctoral disertation.

It is not to do with them not understanding or believing in the efficiency of hypnosis. It is more to do with protecting themselves and participants in student projects being subjected to possibly unskilled opperators.

they are unlikely to change the policy for a student, even if that student was to prove their training and qualifications to do this.

so you are wise to choose another route.

How about using Trems like Relaxation with Positive Mental Imagery, and Imaginal Rehearsal?

LOve and hugs,


Fable

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fable Goodman on April 30, 2009 at 7:03am

Cheers Tom,

I'm not getting drawn into arguing for or against it... simply stating for Brian's information, what I understand the situation to be.

And Indeed am only basing that on my own experience from when I was last at Sunderland University, some years back, doing a joint Psychology and Sociology degree.

I had already been a full time practicing hypnotherapist/psychotherapist and counsellor for many years and was well known in Sunderland. I was also the Training Officer for a National counselling and befriending organisation. And chairperson and Training officer for a local Aids helpline.

The head of the Psychology department then, who was also a very good hypnotist, and quite well known in the international 'academic hypnosis' field, had some years earlier been a client of mine.

I mention these things only to make the point that my skills and qualifications as a therapist were not in quesion.

This however did not change the rules... I wanted to do a project using hypnosis, demonstrating the ability of hypnosis to help with studying, but was not allowed to do so. I accepted this and did something else instead. (which happily involved far less work)

Love and hugs,

Fable

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tranzkey on April 30, 2009 at 1:04pm

Just a quick comment on safety - hypnosis as we generally think about it is safe for therapy and stage, but the wrong suggestion can lead to disastrous results.

Two stories - there was a vegas show, where a guy was galloping on an imaginary horse, under the hyp's suggestions. "Ride off the stage." Instead of the expected exit to stage left or stage right, he galloped straight into the crowd, and hurt himself when he fell off the elevated stage...

Then there was the time they tried hypnosis for tactical police training. If you know anything about the training, you know that they simulate scenarios a lot. Sometimes it is like adults playing cops and robbers, but at other times, a person can get lost in it, and it seems very real...

Under hypnosis, it ALL seemed real, and several men shot each other.

I do not see what could go wrong with musicians, but obviously, nobody could see anything going wrong in these two cases either.

So the person we are trying to encourage and assist should be prepared to discuss the safety aspects....

▶ Reply to This

▶ Reply to This

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page