Hypnotism
has had a long and eventful history, with intrigue and mystery surrounding it
since the term was first coined back in 1841 by Scottish surgeon James Braid.
Over the next hundred plus years, there were a number of innovative thinkers
that helped bring hypnotism out of the circus and stage shows and into the
field of medical science. Today it helps millions of people around the world
overcome bad habits, fears and help change their lives for good.
Magnetism
Franz
Mesmer is often considered the original father of hypnosis, after creating a
theory of a field of study called animal magnetism. Also referred to as the
theory of magnetism, it advances the view that a natural energetic transference
occurs between all animate and inanimate objects. It was when Mesmer travelled
to Paris that his ideas and theories kicked off, making many famous appearances
that wowed the crowds and gained much lauded followers.
Mesmer
selected people who were in need of healing. Eventually, he met the American
Ambassador Benjamin Franklin and his colleagues, who were asked by King Louis
XVI to investigate this Animal Magnetism. The commissioned board of science and
medical luminaries were tasked to prove the existence of the metaphysical
magnetic fluid that Mesmer claimed was threaded through animate and inanimate
objects to create their connection.
The
commission didn’t find any evidence of this mysterious mesmerising substance,
and suggested that the apparent change and improvement seen in one of Mesmer’s
patients as imagined. It was after Mesmer’s discoveries that one of his most
stable students in the arts of Mesmerisation theorised a state of consciousness
below that of conscious actions. This state of sleeping consciousness - the
state of being hypnotised - soon became intriguing to both scientists and the
public.
Psychological Explanations
Followers
of Magnetism and Animal Magnetism turned to the psychology and physiology of
how the mind works. The move from magnetism to modern hypnotism came about due
to Braid’s perspective that hypnosis was explained by ordinary psychological
and physiological processes such as suggestion and focused attention. This led
to a new breed of hypnotists that travelled far and wide displaying their
powers to the shocked crowds.
One
of these modern hypnotists was Milton H. Erickson, who took the study and
practise of hypnotism into the realm of scientific inquiry. In one famous
case,Erickson treated a patient who was left paralysed unable to speak due to a
stroke. Erickson verbally abused the patient so much that the patient stood up
and walked out of the door whilst telling Erickson exactly what he thought of
him. An instance of the power and celebrated work Erickson created.
These
days the power to perform on stage in front of an audience hasn’t lost its
charm, and there certainly exists a wave of hypnotism that looks to entertain
rather than help people on a deeper level. But many people also benefit by
understanding the benefits of hypnotism and understanding the power of their
own mind. Hypnotism has come a long way from its early beginnings to become an
alternative form of treatment.
