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How Does Hypnosis Work? Here’s What the Science Says

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Many think of hypnosis as a form of entertainment seen on stage or in the movies.  Also, hypnosis has gotten a bad reputation from early charlatans who tried to employ the process of nefarious purposes.  “But hypnosis has a surprisingly robust scientific framework. Clinical research has shown that it can help relieve pain and anxiety and aid smoking cessation, weight loss, and sleep. It can help children and adolescents better regulate their feelings and behaviors. Some people can even use “self-hypnosis” to manage stress, cope with life’s challenges, and improve their physical and emotional health.  Hypnosis creates “a non-judgmental immersive experience,” says Dr. David Spiegel, a Stanford University psychiatrist and leading researcher of hypnosis. It’s been used in various forms for centuries, but it wasn’t until 1843 that the Scottish surgeon Dr. James Braid popularized the term “hypnosis.” Braid’s central discovery—that concentration can guide the brain toward a more suggestible state—was and remains controversial. But physicians have continued to test and teach the technique over the centuries with great success, Spiegel says.”

The article can be used in conjunction with chapters on States of Consciousness, Stress and Health, Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology, and therapy.

SOURCE

Time, April 28, 2022, by Eleanor Cummins

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://time.com/6171844/how-hypnosis-works/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-article&utm-term=health_mental-health

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/38w2s7j7

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is the process of hypnosis?

•How can it be employed as an adjunct therapy in mental health?

•What types of problems are amenable to the use of hypnosis.