# Hypnotic induction > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hypnotic_induction > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hypnotic_induction.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotic_induction > Source revision: 1351301845 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Hypnotic process Braid's (1841) "upwards and inwards squint" standard induction method, as demonstrated by James Coates (1843-1933) in 1904.[1] Hypnosis Applications Age regression in therapy Animal magnetism Hypnotherapy Stage hypnosis Self-hypnosis Hypnoanalysis Hypnosurgery Origins/History History of hypnosis Royal Commission on Animal Magnetism Key figures Theodore Xenophon Barber Deirdre Barrett Henri-Étienne Beaunis Hippolyte Bernheim Alexandre Bertrand Gil Boyne James Braid John Milne Bramwell William Joseph Bryan Jean-Martin Charcot Robert Hanham Collyer Émile Coué John Bovee Dods Baron du Potet Dave Elman William Collins Engledue Milton H. Erickson James Esdaile John Elliotson Sigmund Freud Erika Fromm Johann Joseph Gassner Ernest Hilgard Josephine R. Hilgard Clark L. Hull Pierre Janet Irving Kirsch Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault Jules Liégeois Franz Mesmer Martin Theodore Orne Charles Poyen Morton Prince Marquis of Puységur Andrew Salter Theodore R. Sarbin Nicholas Spanos Charles Lloyd Tuckey André Muller Weitzenhoffer Michael D. Yapko Related topics Absorption Automaticity Autosuggestion Coding Covert conditioning Covert hypnosis Guided imagery Hypnotherapy in the United Kingdom Hypnotic induction Hypnotic susceptibility Ideomotor phenomenon Neuro-linguistic programming Posthypnotic amnesia Suggestion Suggestion theory Trance v t e **Hypnotic induction** is the process undertaken by a hypnotist to establish the state or conditions required for [hypnosis](/source/Hypnosis) to occur. [Self-hypnosis](/source/Self-hypnosis) is also possible, in which a subject listens to a recorded induction or plays the roles of both hypnotist and subject.[2] ## Traditional techniques [James Braid](/source/James_Braid_(surgeon)) in the nineteenth century saw fixing the eyes on a bright object as the key to hypnotic induction.[3] A century later, [Sigmund Freud](/source/Freud) saw fixing the eyes, or listening to a monotonous sound as *indirect* methods of induction, as opposed to “the direct methods of influence by way of staring or stroking”[4]—all leading however to the same result, the subject's unconscious concentration on the hypnotist. The swinging watch and intense eye gaze -- staples of [hypnotic induction in film and television](/source/Hypnosis_in_popular_culture) -- are not used in practice as the rapidly changing movements, and the obvious [cliché](/source/Clich%C3%A9) of their application, would be distracting rather than focusing. ## Debates Hypnotic induction may be defined as whatever is necessary to get a person into the state of [trance](/source/Trance)[5] — i.e., when understood as a state of increased [suggestibility](/source/Suggestibility), during which critical faculties are reduced, and subjects are more prone to accept the hypnotist's commands and suggestions.[6] Evidence of changes in brain activity and mental processes have also been associated experimentally with hypnotic inductions.[7] [Theodore X. Barber](/source/Theodore_X._Barber) argued that techniques of hypnotic induction were merely empty-but-popularly-expected rituals, inessential for hypnosis to occur: hypnosis on this view is a process of influence, which is only enhanced (or formalized) through expected cultural rituals.[8] [Oliver Zangwill](/source/Oliver_Zangwill) pointed out in opposition that, while cultural expectations are important in hypnotic induction, seeing hypnosis only as a conscious process of influence fails to account for such phenomena as [posthypnotic amnesia](/source/Posthypnotic_amnesia) or post-hypnotic suggestion.[9] ## Faster methods of hypnotic induction In early hypnotic literature a hypnosis induction was a gradual, drawn-out process. Methods were designed to relax the hypnotic subject into a state of inner focus (during which their [imagination](/source/Imagination) would come to the forefront) and the hypnotist would be better able to influence them and help them effect changes at the [subconscious](/source/Subconscious) level.[10] These are still used, notably in [hypnotherapy](/source/Hypnotherapy), where the gradual relaxation of a client may be preferred over faster inductions. Generally, a hypnotherapist will use the induction they find most appropriate and effective for each individual client. However, newer and faster methods have been suggested – such as the Elman Induction, introduced by [Dave Elman](/source/Dave_Elman)[11] – which involve having the subject imagine that their eyes are just too relaxed to keep open, so that the harder they try to keep them open, the harder it becomes to keep them open (otherwise known as a [double-bind](/source/Double_bind)). The therapist then raises the subject's arm and allows it to drop, to further impress the state of relaxation. Lastly, the therapist has the subject visualize clouds and numbers within those clouds, as they blow away (each number that blows away increases the effect of the trance) until the subject is too tired to think of any more numbers. This process takes several minutes, but has been known to be effective enough to prepare patients for certain types of surgery. However, there are even faster instant hypnosis inductions (such as 'snap' inductions) which employ the principles of shock and surprise. A shock to the nervous system of the subject causes their conscious mind to be temporarily disengaged. During this brief window of distraction the hypnotist quickly intervenes, allowing the subject to enter the state of intense, hyper imagination and inner focus.[12] ## Literary examples - In [George du Maurier](/source/George_du_Maurier)'s *[Trilby](/source/Trilby_(novel))*, we are told of the hypnotist [Svengali](/source/Svengali) that “with one look of his eye – with a word – Svengali could turn her into the other Trilby”.[13] ## See also - [Jean Martin Charcot](/source/Jean_Martin_Charcot) - [Double bind](/source/Double_bind) - [Faith healing](/source/Faith_healing) - [History of hypnosis](/source/History_of_hypnosis) - [Hypnoid state](/source/Hypnoid_state) - [Hypnotic susceptibility](/source/Hypnotic_susceptibility) - [Hypnosis in popular culture](/source/Hypnosis_in_popular_culture) - [Nancy School](/source/Nancy_School) - [Projective identification](/source/Projective_identification) - [The Salpêtrière School of Hypnosis](/source/The_Salp%C3%AAtri%C3%A8re_School_of_Hypnosis) - [Sleep induction](/source/Sleep_induction) - [Suggestibility](/source/Suggestibility) ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Coates (1904), Figure II, facing p.23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Baryss, Imants (2003). *Alterations of Consciousness*. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. p. 109. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** O. L. Zangwill, 'History of Hypnotism' in R. Gregory ed., *The Oxford Companion to the Mind* (1987) p. 331. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** S. Freud, *Civilization, Society and Religion* (PFL 12) p. 158-9 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Baryss, Imants (2003). *Alterations of Consciousness*. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. p. 110. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Keys To The Mind - How to Hypnotize Anybody and Practice Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Correctly - by Dr. Richard K Nongard and Nathan Thomas 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** M. R. Nash ed., *Oxford Handbook of Hypnotism* (2011) p. 387 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** O. L. Zangwill, 'Experimental Hypnosis' in R. Gregory ed., *The Oxford Companion to the Mind* (1987) p. 330 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** O. L. Zangwill, 'Experimental Hypnosis' in R. Gregory ed., *The Oxford Companion to the Mind* (1987) p. 330 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Time Distortion – A Comparison of Hypnotic Induction and Progressive Relaxation Procedures: A Brief Communication - Clement von Kirchenheim & Michael A. Persinger 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** A. Jain, *Clinical and Meditative Hypnotherapy* (2006) p. 10 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** See, for instance, [Gil Boyne](/source/Gil_Boyne)'s *Transforming Therapy a New Approach to Hypnotherapy* (1989) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-930-29813-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-930-29813-5), and Charles Tebbetts' *Miracles on Demand* (1987), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0930298284](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0930298284) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Du Maurier, quoted in J. Pintar/S. J. Lynn, *Hypnosis: A Brief History* (2009) p. 1 ## References - [Coates, James (1904), *Human Magnetism; or, How to Hypnotise: A Practical Handbook for Students of Mesmerism*, London: Nichols & Co.](https://archive.org/download/b28099734/b28099734.pdf) ## Further reading - T. X. Barber, *Hypnosis* (1969) - A. Barabasz/J. G. Watkins, *Hypnotherapeutic Techniques* (2005) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hypnotic induction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotic_induction) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotic_induction?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.