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Hypnosis and the Mind
The term “hypnosis” is derived from the Greek word hypnos, which means “sleep”. When in a state of hypnosis, otherwise known as a trance, one experiences deep relaxation and altered consciousness. This trance is particularly characterized by extreme suggestibility and heightened imagination. Within this state, individuals have complete free will and are indeed fully conscious, however they become hyperattentive to the subject at hand and nearly exclude any other thought.

Subconscious Versus Conscious Mind
The predominant view of hypnosis is it is a way to access an individual’s subconscious mind. The relaxation and focus during hypnotism calms the conscious mind to the point at which a hypnotist can work with the subconscious mind. The subconscious regulates emotional feelings and bodily sensations, and it is the storehouse for memories. By gaining access into one’s subconscious, a hypnotist can evoke feelings and sensations, as well as activate memories that perhaps were forgotten.

History
Hypnotism and suggestion were common in the history of the ancient orient, with their presence in religious ceremonies. The popularity was established as a mark of influence coming from gods. Within the European society, hypnosis was regarded as a dark power, used in ways by charlatans and adventurers to deceive audiences. For people of high standards, hypnotism was for a long time regarded as simple deception and not science-worthy.

Franz Mesmer
Mesmer, a physician who founded the practice of mesmerism which was used as a therapeutic system based on manipulation of a "fluid" he termed animal magnetism When animal magnetism was circulating properly through the body, Mesmer claimed good health. Should the fluid be depleted or not balanced, sickness results whereby a trained magnetist would manipulate and correct the imbalance. His practice was brought to Paris, where it received mixed reviews.

James Braid
James Braid was one of the first scientists to form a clear conception of hypnotism. He proposed the theory of neurypnology, a departure from the theory of mesmerism. Braid described the theory such that hypnotism does not require a person to "put" them into a state, but rather it could be easily self-induced as a result of intense concentration on their part. Braid's theory differs from mesmerization in terms of the process of induction and the subject's understanding of their state of hypnosis. His rejection of mesmerism was largely on account of observable changes in behaviour not being as a result of trance states induced by magnetic fluid, and instead that many marvels of mesmerism were capable of rational explanation.

Sigmund Freud (hypnoanalysis)
Sigmund Freud considered dreams to be the road to uncovering the unconscious. His method of psychoanalysis was directed at bringing underlying drives and repressed material into awareness. In the 1880s, Freud began using hypnosis with patients. He ordered them to bring into the waking state memories and feelings experienced while in a hypnotic state. Many patients were not ready to deal with or face the memories that had come into awareness during the trance, thus they denied or did not remember this material. Freud consequently concluded that hypnosis circumvents the ego. This is actually inaccurate, because people in hypnosis still perceive and experience sensations, which are functions of the ego.

Milton Erikson
Milton Erikson developed the Eriksonian hypnosis, which is based upon the three assumptions:


 * 1) Hypnosis is an altered state of conscious with markers that are distinguishable from the waking state. This state is produced through hypnotic induction in responsive persons.
 * 2) Hypnotizability of the subject/client is primarily a function of the hypnotist’s skill and less a function of the subject/client’s hypnotic ability. As such, in the Ericksonian paradigm of hypnosis, all individuals should have the ability for hypnotic responding.
 * 3) The use of indirect hypnotic suggestion is more effective in producing hypnotic responses than is direct suggestion. Erickson suggests that indirect suggestion has utility in aiding the client to access unique potential and earlier life experiences, as well as being a method to bypass conscious resistance..

Despite his compelling anecdotes regarding hypnosis, Ericksonian approaches to therapy have proven not definite. There is no strong evidence for trance states, the existence of a wise unconscious, ther importance of indirect over direct suggestion, or hypnotizability as a universal ability.

Criticisms of Hypnotherapy
Talk about: In a suggestible state, a hypnotist might even be able to implant false memories, or confabulations.