The Origin And History Of Hypnosis

Hypnosis or hypnotism is a psychological phenomenoneffectively about 1817 in his medical practice and
of exceeding interest to both layman and scientist.published extensively on its suitability for certain
Its history is as old as that of the human race, and ittypes of patients. Esdaile, through Elliotson's writings,
has been utilized by the most primitive of peoples,became so interested that he succeeded in having a
ancient and modern, in the practice of religious andgovernment hospital built in India primarily for the use
medical rites to intensify belief in mysticism andof hypnosis, where he extended its use to all types
magic. The striking character of this psychologicalof patients, especially surgical. In 1841 James Braid, an
manifestation, its inexplicable and bewilderingEnglish physician who bitterly opposed .mesmerism,.
phenomenology, and the seemingly miraculous resultswas induced to make a physical examination of a
it produces.together with its long use for themesmerized subject. He recognized both the validity
bewilderment of the observer.have served toof the phenomenon and its psychological character,
surround it with an aura of the supernatural and thewith the result that he coined the terms hypnosis
unreal. As a consequence, the attitude of the generaland hypnotism and initiated the first scientific studies
public toward this phenomenon, now scientificallyof hypnosis as a psychological condition of extensive
established, has been, and too often still is, one ofmedical and scientific significance. Since then, clinicians
superstitious awe, misunderstanding, incredulity,first and psychologists later, among them many
antagonism, and actual hostility and fear. This attitudeoutstanding scientists, have contributed increasingly
is perpetuated by the exploitation of hypnosis by theto a better understanding and utilization of hypnosis
charlatan and the stage performer and theas a scientific tool and as a medical procedure of
well-intentioned but mistaken and inadequateimmense value for certain types of patients.
utilization by inexperienced experimenters and medicalParticularly has interest been developing rapidly during
men. The scientific history of hypnosis began aboutthe last 25 years among psychiatrists and
1775 with Anton Mesmer, whose name is stillpsychologists. During the last 15 years there has been
attached to it, but unfortunately, even this scientifican increasing wealth of publications dealing with the
beginning was founded on a mystical belief that iteffective use of hypnosis in the fields of psychiatry
was constituted of a peculiar cosmic fluid with healingand experimental psychology. Regrettably, however,
properties. Mesmer.s use of hypnosis began with histhere is still a persistence of outmoded ideas and
discovery that suggestion in various forms could beconcepts of hypnosis which vitiate experimental
used to induce a condition resembling sleep in certainstudies and therapeutic efforts. For example, some
types of patients, and that, in this state, therapeuticpsychologists are still publishing studies based upon
suggestions could be given to alleviate and eventechniques and psychological concepts belonging to
remedy their complaints and symptoms.the 19th century, and some medical men still employ
Unfortunately, Mesmer failed to recognize the purelyit for direct symptom relief rather than as an
psychological character of his discovery andeducative procedure for the correction of personality
attributed it to a cosmic force he termed .animaldisorders. As yet the scientific study of hypnosis is
magnetism.. Although Mesmer successfully treatedstill in its infancy despite the development of a
large numbers of patients on whom orthodox medicalhealthy, intense interest in it as a scientific problem of
procedures had failed, he fell into disrepute becausemerit. There is still lacking an adequate general
of the mysticism with which he surrounded hisappreciation of the need to integrate hypnotic
therapy. Nevertheless, his discovery and utilization ofstudies with our presentday concepts and
it served to lay a foundation for the therapeutic useunderstandings of personality, of inter- and
of hypnosis and for a recognition of the validity ofintrapersonal relationships, and psychosomatic
psychotherapy as a medical procedure. Sinceinterrelationships and interdependencies.
Mesmer's time there has been a succession ofMilos Pesic is a professional hypnotist and owner of
scientific men, chiefly medical, who have contributedhighly popular and comprehensive Hypnosis web site.
greatly to its scientific growth. Elliotson, the firstVisit his Hypnosis squidoo lens for more articles and
British physician to use a stethoscope, used hypnosisresources on hypnosis and NLP topics.