The Methods of Stage, Individual and Group Hypnosis

[Pauline Perry]

The way hypnosis works was a mystery that remain locked in obscurity
for hundreds of years until today and the methods of stage, individual
and group hypnosis have significantly improved over the years.
Regardless of whether it is for stage, individual or group hypnosis,
the principles and methods remain the same and only happens to vary in
use.
Researchers have discovered the key to what was considered a mental
phenomenon that unlocked the wonders of hypnosis and opened new doors
for many medical fields, including therapy and psychology, as well as
for entertainment.
One of the recent studies on hypnosis revealed that researchers
discovered several differences in physical body signs that were
compared from those that are in a state of hypnosis and those that are
not, particularly in dismissing some of the long held myths of
mysticism and 'supernatural' nature of hypnosis.
Generally, those researchers claimed that they have not seen any
significant change that can be associated with the state of hypnosis.
During the trance-like state of hypnosis, respiration and heart rate
slows down, but not because of the hypnotic state per se, but because
of the fact respiration and heart rate slows down as a result of deep
relaxation.
However, the findings revealed that there is indeed a change in the
activity of the human brain, especially when the subject is in a
hypnotic state.
Electroencelaphograph or EEG tests, revealed that the brain produces
different brain waves and patterns of electrical charges, which varies
in subjects that are in the waking or sleep state.
EEG's measure electrical activity in the brain and the tests conducted
noted that deep sleep - the state induced by hypnosis - produces
different rhythms to that of dreaming.
But truth be told, hypnosis is not as sinister as it looks, where a
hypnotist can simply take control of a subject's mind and has the
freedom to dictate upon the subject to do his every bidding.
Here are facts that dispel that belief, that the subject must be
willing to get hypnotized, that he must feel comfortable and relaxed
by placing full confidence in the act of hypnosis and that he believes
he can be hypnotized.
With these three basic concerns and preparations in mind, the
hypnotist can then proceed with the act of hypnotism using any of the
three most common ways to induce the hypnotic state.
The most common among all hypnosis methods is the eye fixation method,
which is also called fixed gaze induction, which is one often seen in
movies, like when a hypnotist waves a pendant or a watch in front of a
subject.
This concept is based on the assumption that since there are a lot of
stimuli surrounding a subject at any given time, fixed gaze induction
cause the subject to focus on the item until complete and total focus
is fixed towards the item.
The hypnotist guides the subject with verbal and audible cues in a low
tone and inducing the relaxation state.
Another method is the rapid method, the concept of which is to
aggressively induce a hypnotic with sudden and firm verbal commands.
It is believed that if a hypnotist is forceful enough, the subject
submits his conscious state over to the situation presented by the
hypnotist.
Another method is progressive relaxation and imagery, which is the one
most commonly used in the medical profession, especially by
psychiatrists employing hypnosis as a form of therapy and treatment.
Lastly, there is the balance method, where this method makes use of
slow and rhythmic rocking which causes loss of equilibrium.
These methods, as mentioned before, are some of the most common and
effective methods of inducing a subject into a deep sleep or a
hypnotic state, which are most commonly used today for medical and
therapeutic reasons rather than as a tool to control minds for
sinister means.
The methods of stage, individual or group hypnosis may be varied, but
the processes and effects are basically the same.