By Neuroscience News
Picture a mystic swinging a pocket watch, saying, 'You're getting sleepy.' This clichéd image is what most of us believe hypnosis to be. But it’s time we debunked these myths.
Steven Jay Lynn, a professor at Binghamton University, has dedicated his life to studying hypnosis. In his recent publication, he challenges the age-old misconceptions about this practice.
We often believe that under hypnosis, we become puppets, manipulated at the hypnotist's whim. Lynn, however, assures us this is far from the truth. During hypnosis, individuals retain voluntary control over their actions.
Is hypnosis a 'special state' where defense mechanisms are reduced? Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a realm of 'conscious unconsciousness.' It is a set of procedures modulating awareness, perception, and cognition.
Are you either susceptible to hypnosis or immune? The answer is more nuanced. Responsiveness to hypnosis varies greatly among individuals, and many can benefit from therapeutic suggestions.
Is hypnosis a special skill, a mystical art? Quite the contrary. Administering a hypnotic induction requires no special skills beyond those required for basic social interactions and clinical procedures.
Can hypnosis retrieve accurate memories from a distant past? Hollywood would have us believe so. In reality, hypnosis-induced 'recall' often reflects participants' expectancies, fantasies, and beliefs rather than accurate past events.
So, let's say goodbye to the mystified, magical view of hypnosis. By understanding it better, we can begin to harness its potential as a therapeutic tool, and utilize it to its full potential in our lives.