...stage hypnosis is very different to the essence of modern hypnosis and is mainly responsible for many misconceptions about hypnotism and hypnotherapy. (Waterfield 2004) In order to understand modern hypnosis, it is necessary to look to the past in order to identify and trace its origins. Waterfield writes about examples from history thought to be an indication of early hypnosis in many different cultures, including ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, India and even Australia, but dismisses many of these as unrelated and unproven in many cases. Modern hypnosis in the Western Hemisphere is believed to have started with Franz Anton Mesmer. Born in Iznang, which is now part of Germany, in 1734, Mesmer studied philosophy, theology, music, maths and law before deciding on a medical career. He worked extensively in Vienna and as a result of influences by the mystic physician Paracelsus he began to develop ideas of an invisible fluid in the body which affected health. Initially, he used magnets to manipulate the fluid and ‘magnetise’ his patients. Healing sessions with individual patients progressed to group sessions and Mesmer came to believe the magnets were unnecessary and he moved away from their use to the use of his hands. Following reports that Mesmer cured a blind musician in 1977 and that she subsequently lost her ability to play the piano, Mesmer’s methods were frowned upon and it is thought he moved to Paris hoping for his ideas to be better received. Mesmer moved from...
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...seen today. We will start with looking at Franz Anton Mesmer, who is commonly referred to as the grandfather of hypnosis. Mesmer Studied Theology, but went on to study Law and then medicine. He gained respect in his professional duties and the Viennese society, whilst working at the Vienna school. Mesmer believed that magnetism formed the basis of all successful hypnosis. It was in 1974 on Mesmer’s first patient, where he applied magnets to the patient. Believing that the human body was analogous to magnets and could therefore be used to heal. Mesmer moved to France and alienated many universities and scholars, but gained the respect of Louis XVI. By the 1780s magnets were no longer part of Mesmer’s techniques however, he continued to find success using variations of magnetism. This led to the interest from King Louis XVI, who commissioned a study on Mesmer’s practices. This study concluded that the fluid which Mesmer said “ebbed and flowed according to the laws of magnetism” did not exist....
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... | | | What is Hypnosis? Introduction The purpose of this assignment is to explore the question of what is Hypnosis? To better understand hypnosis in our world today it is useful to explore the history of hypnosis and how this has influenced the modern theory and practice. Describing the various psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis. Finally, looking at the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy, before concluding. The history of hypnosis Ancient history accounts the use of hypnosis dating back as far as 5000 years ago. Healing centres where built and used, in the ancient city of Saqqara in Egypt, by Egyptian priests who would practice a tradition called “Temple Sleep” on ailing individuals in search of healing, the...
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...can then be used to make the beneficial changes that an individual may wish to make in their thought patterns, their behaviors or their physiological state through suggestion. By discussing the psychological and physiological aspects of hypnosis, the essay will reach a conclusion of “what is hypnosis?” Psychology of Hypnosis Historically, hypnosis could not be explained, it seemed that people were being cured by unknown means. Mesmer in the1770s believed that these unexplained cures were down to the laws of magnetism, placing magnets on patient’s bodies or filling tubs with water and iron rods that induced convulsions during his therapy. He believed that the convulsions released a block that a patient had in their fluid flow. Mesmer’s therapy, known as mesmerism, was observed by the Marquis de Puysegur who witnessed that the patients were falling asleep and that he could talk to them, ask questions and get replies whilst they slept. He therefore believed that it was actually due to the psychological state of the patient rather than a physical one. This was followed on by James Braid whose studies found that not only was it the psychological state of the patient, seemingly asleep, but the suggestions that could be given and taken on board when they were in this state....
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... “What is Hypnosis?” Describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in Hypnotherapy. Hypnosis is hard to define as there is much debate and discussion regarding its nature and its true effects. It can be argued that each individual’s experience of hypnosis is unique to them, different people for example are considered to be more susceptible to hypnosis than others and therefore it is hard to measure or assess. Hypnosis itself has developed over time and explanations and evidence provided have been dependent on the scientific and psychological methods of the time. Hypnosis in its most general terms can be described as ‘a relaxed and focused state of concentration brought about through the use of set techniques. These techniques are thought to enhance concentration and increase an individual’s responsiveness to suggestion in order to make beneficial changes to a person’s thought patterns, behaviour or their physiological state’ (Chrysalis, 2010, p 9). In this essay I will first give a very brief account of the history of the practice of hypnosis and then go on to describe the psychological and physical aspects of it. In the last section of the essay I will discuss the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy. Hypnosis in some form or another can be found throughout history and within different cultures. One of the earliest examples can be found amongst the Shamans, who were also referred to as witchdoctors or healers. Shaman would intentionally...
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...The Project Gutenberg eBook, Complete Hypnotism: Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism, by A. Alpheus This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Complete Hypnotism: Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism How to Hypnotize: Being an Exhaustive and Practical System of Method, Application, and Use Author: A. Alpheus Release Date: September 20, 2006 [eBook #19342] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMPLETE HYPNOTISM: MESMERISM, MIND-READING AND SPIRITUALISM*** E-text prepared by Jerry Kuntz as part of the Lawson's Progress Project Complete Hypnotism: Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism How to Hypnotize: Being an Exhaustive and Practical System of Method, Application, and Use by A. Alpheus 1903 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION--History of hypnotism--Mesmer--Puysegur--Braid--What is hypnotism?--Theories of hypnotism: 1. Animal magnetism; 2. The Neurosis Theory; 3. Suggestion Theory CHAPTER I--How to Hypnotize--Dr. Cocke's method-Dr. Flint's method--The French method at Paris--At Nancy--The Hindoo silent method--How to wake a subject from hypnotic sleep--Frauds of public hypnotic entertainments. CHAPTER II--Amusing experiments--Hypnotizing...
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...WHAT IS HYPNOSIS? I intend this essay to cover the subject matter, ranging from the generally acknowledged Father of Hypnotherapy through to the founder of the Progressive Muscle Relaxation method, describing on the way the scientific advances that help us have a better understanding of Hypnosis, and why relaxation is an important tool in our arsenal. “And…You’re a Chicken...! ” Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the modern Stage hypnotist, this is the General Public’s opinion of Hypnotism. To better understand today’s modern approach to Hypnosis as a tool used for therapy, we have to go back in time, to a point in the late eighteenth century, when a Viennese Doctor named Franz Mesmer (1734-1815) decided enough was enough with regard to the then contemporary cures for various maladies, some of which caused the patient more pain and distress than the ailment for which they were being treated. The devotion he showed towards his patients was unusual, most notably in the case of Franzl Oesterline, considered by many to be his “Breakthrough” case. After moving her into his home to provide twenty-four hour attention, he elected to affect a cure for her ill health using theories that he had put forward in his youth, that of “Animal Magnetism” in which he postulated that gravity and tidal influences act upon the human body. Using a magnet, he “disrupted” the fields of gravity that he believed were causing his patient’s problems, whilst explaining to her that she...
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...What is Hypnosis? Throughout history there have been, and are still many different perspectives and opinions of what is hypnosis, its uses and functions. In order to clearly understand what hypnosis is, one must look firstly into the history of hypnosis and the different concepts which have emerged over the years, from as early as 50,000AD to the modern day, throughout different cultures. After looking at the history of hypnosis, it will go on to describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis, giving reference to Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta waves, the four different brain waves, indicating an individuals mental state, which brain waves comes in to play during hypnosis and its relevance. Graham Wicks’ (1985 Toronto’s Annual International Society of Hypnosis convention) condensed concepts from previous various writers’ concepts, The multistate phenomenon, five states of hypnotic features, will be addressed, (Karle & Boys) as will Edmond Jacobson (1929) on the effects of muscle contractions between patients and the benefits of relaxation leading to the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy today and the use of progressive muscle relaxation techniques. Hypnosis goes back thousands of years to the Greeks and Egyptians. They used to put people in a trance-like state, to bring on dreams, so they could help with peoples problems. Hypnosis was also found amongst Shaman’s, which were also known as ‘witchdoctors’. Shamans were strongly focussed with a powerful process...
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...Doctors can do more with it and would need to prescribe less pills and see more results with their patients. Science has proved that hypnosis is in fact an effective tool, now is the moment to incorporate it in every health practices. Hypnosis’ success, with stopping addiction and curing depression, anxiety, fears and more, makes the health practitioner ethically responsible to implement it in its practices. Keywords: hypnotherapy, psychosomatic disorder, Mesmer, Erickson, depression Introduction Hypnosis is defined as “A trancelike state resembling sleep, usually induced by a therapist by focusing a subject's attention, that heightens the subject's receptivity to suggestion. The uses of hypnosis in medicine and psychology include recovering repressed memories, modifying or eliminating undesirable behavior (such as smoking), and treating certain chronic disorders, such as anxiety” (American Heritage, 2012). Its name comes from the Greek language “hypnos” meaning sleep. Hypnosis is a natural state of mind. This state of mind is known as hyper- suggestibility where a subject is more prone to change if guided by the hypnotherapist in the direction of his desire. While in this hyper- suggestible state, the mind has the power to change an association, get rid of old pains or...
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...Christian H. Godefroy is a specialist in positive thinking and autosuggestion. He has given training seminars to over 6,000 senior company personnel around the world on self-confidence, communication and relaxation. Today he concentrates on publishing books about personal and professional success and about health and runs his own highly successful publishing companies in France and Switzerland. You can reach him at: mailto:webmaster@mind-powers.com Copyright © 2001 Christian H. Godefroy All Rights Reserved. Duplication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the author. Excerpts may be published for review purposes with appropriate citation and reference. This work is protected under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. Unlawful duplication is punishable by severe civil and criminal penalties. Table of Contents Forward ..................................................................................... 2 About the author... .................................................................. 2 Introduction ............................................................................. 5 Part One: Sophrology ........................................................... 18 Hypnosis ..................................................................................................... 19 Sophrology.................................................................................................... 4 Suggestion...
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...The DO s Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, 1828 –1917 THE DOS OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE IN AMERICA Second Edition NORMAN GEVITZ The Johns Hopkins University Press Baltimore & London © 1982, 2004 The Johns Hopkins University Press All rights reserved. Published 2004 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 246897531 The Johns Hopkins University Press 2715 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363 www.press.jhu.edu Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gevitz, Norman. The DOs : osteopathic medicine in America / Norman Gevitz.–2nd ed. p. ; cm. Rev ed. of: The D.O.’s. c1982 Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8018-7833-0 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-8018-7834-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Osteopathic medicine—United States—History. [DNLM: 1. Osteopathic Medicine—history—United States. WB 940 G396d 2004] I. Gevitz, Norman. D.O.’s. II. Title. RZ325.U6G48 2004 615.5′33′0973—dc21 2003012874 A catalog record for this book is available from the British Library. Frontispiece courtesy of the Still National Osteopathic Museum, Kirksville, Missouri. For Kathryn Gevitz This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Preface & Acknowledgments ix Chapter 1 Andrew Taylor Still THE MISSOURI MECCA IN THE FIELD 39 1 22 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 STRUCTURE & FUNCTION EXPANDING THE SCOPE 54 69 85 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 THE PUSH FOR HIGHER STANDARDS A QUESTION OF IDENTITY The California Merger 101 115...
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...Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 BRAIN POWER Myth #1 Most People Use Only 10% of Their Brain Power Myth #2 Some People Are Left-Brained, Others Are Right-Brained Myth #3 Extrasensory Perception (ESP) Is a Well-Established Scientific Phenomenon Myth #4 Visual Perceptions Are Accompanied by Tiny Emissions from the Eyes Myth #5 Subliminal Messages Can Persuade People to Purchase Products 2 FROM WOMB TO TOMB Myth #6 Playing Mozart’s Music to Infants Boosts Their Intelligence Myth #7 Adolescence Is Inevitably a Time of Psychological Turmoil Myth #8 Most People Experience a Midlife Crisis in | 8 Their 40s or Early 50s Myth #9 Old Age Is Typically Associated with Increased Dissatisfaction and Senility Myth #10 When Dying, People Pass through a Universal Series of Psychological Stages 3 A REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST Myth #11 Human Memory Works like a Tape Recorder or Video Camera, and Accurate Events We’ve Experienced Myth #12 Hypnosis Is Useful for Retrieving Memories of Forgotten Events Myth #13 Individuals Commonly Repress the Memories of Traumatic Experiences Myth #14 Most People with Amnesia Forget All Details of Their Earlier Lives 4 TEACHING OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS Myth #15 Intelligence (IQ) Tests Are Biased against Certain Groups of People My th #16 If You’re Unsure of Your Answer When Taking a Test, It’s Best to Stick with Your Initial Hunch Myth #17 The Defining Feature of Dyslexia Is Reversing Letters Myth #18 Students Learn Best When Teaching Styles Are Matched to...
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