Vol. 8, No. 1, 1991

Articles on the New Age

Rick Branch

When did hypnosis begin? How does it work? Does it work? Is it dangerous? Does it have ties to the New Age or the Occult?

Some of these questions have been asked for decades, other are still being asked and the answers are still evasive and vehemently disagreed upon.

There are however, some answers to a few of these questions.

History of Hypnosis

Richard Shames, co-founder and medical director of the Wholistic Health and Nurition Institute, along with Chuck Sterin, research director at the W.H.N. Institute, have written a fascinating book which discusses the history of hypnotism.

"Some form of hypnosis has been an intimate part of man's experience over the last three thousand years.

"Tribal shamans, witch doctors, and religious leaders in all cultures have utilized hypnotic techniques to heal the sick and to get in touch with the deeper powers of nature.

"Anthropologists and archeologist [sic] have found evidence of hypnotic procedures being used in Egypt... ancient Greeks... interwoven through the histories of Hindu, Persian, and Yogic cultures... (and) American Indian tribes [as they] ...attempt to have a mystical vision or a dream communication with the gods...," (Healing with Mind Power: Living and Feeling the Way You Want To - Through Guided Meditation and Self-Hypnosis, pp. 19-20).

Though its ancient history is saturated with influences ranging from the Occult to Pantheistic India, hypnotism was not popularized until the late 18th century.

It was a man named Franz Anton Mesmer who "...is often considered to be the inventor of animal magnetism...." This teaching became known as "mesmerism" and was later fully developed into modern hypnotism (Encyclopedia of Psychology, David G. Benner, Ed., p. 543).

Today, hypnotism has been placed in the company of several other practices ranging from the questionable to the non-Christian.

These would include Neuro-linguistic Programing (NLP), Silva Mind Control and Mind Dynamics (Healing Yourself: A Step-By-Step Program For Better Health Through Imagery, Martin Rossman, p. 6).

Also, according to Arthur Ellison, Vice-President of the British Society for Psychical Research, "A certain proportion of hypnosis subjects can have an out-of-body experience as a result of suggestion under hypnosis," (The Paranormal, p. 69).

What Is Hypnosis?

Simply stated, hypnosis "...involves a trance, or at least an altered state of consciousness that is brought on by repetitive verbal rituals, known as the induction procedure," (Skeptical Inquirer Spring 1990, p. 302).

According to Dr. George Matheson, Chief of Psychology at Etobicoke General Hospital in Rexdale, Ontario Canada, "...hypnosis appears to involve a shift in concentration, executed in a passive manner, resulting in a state of consciousness distinguishably different from alertness or ordinary sleep.

"It is characterized by narrowing of attention, reduced rational criticalness, and increased responsiveness to suggestion."

He summarizes his comments by explaining hypnosis helps, "...the individual to divorce himself from his experienced rationalized reality in order to entertain and comprehend new alternatives and understand-ings," (Encyclopedia of Psychology, David G. Benner, ed., pp. 545-546; emphasis mine).

This idea of opening oneself to new belief systems is reiterated by Arthur Ellison of the British Society for Psychic Research.

He explains, "Hypnotic suggestion, mentioned earlier, is the commonest way of changing conditions in the mind at the unconscious level, that is, the beliefs and practices...," (The Paranormal, p. 115).

Hypnosis is then the ability to by-pass the conscious mind where the rational and logical functions are found. Once these obstacles are circumvented, the unconscious mind is helpless to distinguish between the real and the unreal, the Christian and the non-Christian.

Is Hypnosis Dangerous?

In his section on Myths of Hypnosis, Dr. Matheson, Chief of Psychology at Etobicoke Hospital in Ontario, provides the following information.

"Myth of Induction

"However, the assurance given to counteract this myth of power, that `you can never be hypnotized against your will,' is only a half truth.

"A hypnotic induction does require the cooperation of the individual, and a trance can be resisted. Nevertheless, the individual's participation may not be a conscious response, and people can enter into hypnosis without knowing that they did so.

"Myth of Control

"The nature of hypnosis is such that people will respond more readily and less critically to suggestions given to them while in trance. This hypersuggestibility has been a prominent characteristic of hypnosis.

"However, it appears that while individuals will respond to suggestions that at other times and out of trance they think are ridiculous or irrational, there does appear to be some limit to the extent to which these suggestions can go before the person refuses to cooperate and/or spontaneously awaken.

"Considerable debate still continues regarding the point at which this limit is imposed.

"Some believe that one will never do in hypnosis anything that they would not do otherwise, while others believe it creates the potential for very irrational if not immoral and criminal acts.

"It is this view of hypnosis as a potentially dangerous tool, if improperly or unprofessionally employed, that has sparked moves for legislation restricting its use," (Encyclopedia of Psychology, David G. Benner, ed., p. 544; emphasis mine).