The Critical Faculty

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on October 3, 2011 at 6:03am

Anthony,

I have found that the critical faculty is in reality our ability to determine what is real and true in the world.

Our senses normally provide us with input from the outside world and our analytical mind uses that to determine what is real and true.

I feel this is because it's primary function is to determine what is a threat and what isn't, and what is a lie and what isn't.

This investigation to determine what is real and true is the bottom line of all analytical thought, all problem solving, and all rationale.

This ability to determine what is real and true becomes diminished when we are put in a hypnotic trance because our focus of attention goes internal to the body (and not on input from the senses) so the input from our senses is becomes diminished and is replaced by input generated from our imagination whose primary function is to use memory to complete incomplete data.

This is why we can have hallucinations, have our hand stuck to a table, lose the number 6, etc.

During this time, our behavior and judgment center still functions, its just that it doesn't know what is real and true.

I think if they were able to do the activity of doing the puzzle book, that the attempt in doing so would bring them out of hypnotic trance because it would require the critical faculty to resume its diminished function.

We will stay in hypnotic trance and automatically react to suggestion, as long as there is no reason not to (as determined by the behavior/decision center that I call the judgmental mind), if a valid reason to emerge presents itself, we will do so.

 

John

 

 

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on October 3, 2011 at 6:59am

John has presented a well written response. I'd say, "One cannot simultaneously be both rational and irrational."

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Jacquin on October 3, 2011 at 9:17am

Thanks for that gents. I am guessing neither of you think hypnosis can help someone be better at chess then?

 

Anthony

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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on October 3, 2011 at 9:37am

Doc, have you never been phobic?

I'd say that people are often rational and irrational at the same time.

AJ - DocRegal.com said:

John has presented a well written response. I'd say, "One cannot simultaneously be both rational and irrational."

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on October 3, 2011 at 10:05am

I agree -- Many client issues involve conflicts between irrational emotions and rational thinking--

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on October 3, 2011 at 10:10am

I believe that we process suggestions automatically when our critical faculities are bypassed-

 

I believe that one could experience a negative hallucination and do a critical thinking puzzle as hypnotic experience makes it possible for one to see and work with the book without seeing the table...

I believe hypnosis can help improve one's chess game.

 

 Michael E.

 

Anthony J. wrote:

 

What do you think happens when the critical faculty is bypassed?

 

If you were hypnotised to not be able to see a table in front of you and succeeded in experiencing that hallucination do you think you would you still be able to do a critical thinking puzzle in a book that rested on that invisible table?

 

If so, why?

 

 

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Permalink Reply by JImmy Hynes on October 3, 2011 at 10:16am

I'll stick my neck out and say it can be done. Have you tried it yet?

 

For lack of more/better words, hypnotic trance is more of a deep level intense trust in someone (so that whatever they say evaluates as true and doesn't need to be checked) than turning stupid. 'Hypnotic trance' (you know, the thing with the spaced out looks and eye flutterin) may help with getting suggestions to stick, but really is not necessary to begin with.

 

I like how you brought up testable hypotheses that we can disagree on and then resolve. :)

 

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on October 3, 2011 at 12:02pm

If one is truly conscious, that is not possible, Graham.

Graham Old said:

Doc, have you never been phobic?

I'd say that people are often rational and irrational at the same time.

AJ - DocRegal.com said:

John has presented a well written response. I'd say, "One cannot simultaneously be both rational and irrational."

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Jacquin on October 3, 2011 at 12:21pm

Knowing the phobic reaction you are having is ridiculous is surely an example of rationalizing about an irrational fear is it not?

 

Anthony

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on October 3, 2011 at 12:45pm

While Chess does not require reality to play (I used to play 3 dimensional chess in my head in high school where you just call out the moves and they are recorded and the pieces moved on a remote game board), and is mostly automatic reaction of how the pieces move; I would say that a natural trance state would enhance the gaming ability, but playing while in a hypnotic trance state (somnambulism) might diminish it.

Needless to say that I view hypnosis as simply the process of amplifying a natural trance state into a hypnotic one.

 

John

 

 

Anthony Jacquin said:

Thanks for that gents. I am guessing neither of you think hypnosis can help someone be better at chess then?

 

Anthony

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on October 3, 2011 at 12:50pm

I offer as evidence to the contrary... knowing the right thing to do.. yet doing something else because it feels better. Movies are made of such things.

 

John

AJ - DocRegal.com said:

John has presented a well written response. I'd say, "One cannot simultaneously be both rational and irrational."

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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on October 3, 2011 at 2:07pm

Yes, it is.

In fact, it doesn't even take a phobia. I can achieve catalepsy in my arm and have both rational/irrational elements to it.

Perhaps it is being 'truly conscious' - whatever that means - that enables such dual thinking.

Again, I have to ask - have you ever been phobic? This seems to be of the essence.

John, your 'knowing the right thing to do' example is great.

 

 

AJ - DocRegal.com said:

If one is truly conscious, that is not possible, Graham.

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