PSYA01H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9.6: Franz Mesmer, Suggestibility
HYPNOSIS
Modern hypnosis phenomenon discovered by Franz Mesmer
-when magnets passed over peoples bodies they would often have convulsions and enter a
trancelike state during which miraculous cures can be achieved
But not affected by magnets, but his persuasive and compelling personality
We now know convulsions and trancelike states do not always accompany hypnosis, and
hypnosis does not cure physical illness
Characteristics of Hypnosis
Only essential feature of being hypnotized, is the knowledge they are to be hypnotized
Hypnotized people are very suggestible, behaviour conforms to what hypnotist suggests can
even misperceive reality
Ideomotor suggestions: are those in which hypnotist suggests that a particular action will occur
without awareness of voluntary action, such as raising an arm
Challenge suggestions: are suggestions that the hypnotized individual will be unable to perform
a normally voluntary action
Cognitive suggestions: are suggestions that the hypnotized person is undergoing distortions of
sensory or cognitive experience such as not feeling pain or remember something
One most dramatic phenomenon is post-hypnotic suggestibility: tendency of a person to perform
behaviour suggested by hypnotist after person left hypnotic state
Post-hypnotic amnesia: failure to remember what occurred during hypnosis; induced by
suggestions made during hypnosis
When changes occur through cognitive suggestions to people perceptions, it does not change
their perception, but their verbal report of it
Theories of Hypnosis
The Sociocognitive Approach
Developed by Spanos, argued hypnosis not a special state of consciousness in the way sleep
differs from waking but are social actions that reflect what hypnotized believes to be
characterized of a hypnotic trance. Hypnotized person willingly adopts a role and enacts it
according to rules as they understand.
People do hypnotized actions because they know they are will not be blamed or held responsible
The Dissociation Approach
Hypnosis approach based on distinction between psychological process and being aware of it
Presumed that hypnosis isolates psychological processes from conscious ones, and hypnotized
unaware of events and experiences normally would be conscious of
Conscious awareness of perceptions even pain, suppressed by suggestions of hypnotist
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Document Summary
When magnets passed over peoples bodies they would often have convulsions and enter a trancelike state during which miraculous cures can be achieved. But not affected by magnets, but his persuasive and compelling personality. We now know convulsions and trancelike states do not always accompany hypnosis, and hypnosis does not cure physical illness. Only essential feature of being hypnotized, is the knowledge they are to be hypnotized. Hypnotized people are very suggestible, behaviour conforms to what hypnotist suggests can even misperceive reality. Ideomotor suggestions: are those in which hypnotist suggests that a particular action will occur without awareness of voluntary action, such as raising an arm. Challenge suggestions: are suggestions that the hypnotized individual will be unable to perform a normally voluntary action. Cognitive suggestions: are suggestions that the hypnotized person is undergoing distortions of sensory or cognitive experience such as not feeling pain or remember something.
