How does Hypnosis Work?

Well, the simple answer to the question 'How does Hypnosis Work?', is that nobody knows. Mesmer, who is considered by many to be the first hypnotist, believed that hypnosis was caused by magnetic fluid that flowed around the body and used iron filings in water to help with his healing. A Portuguese priest Di Faria, discredited Mesmer by using suggestion and a form of a simple relaxation induction rather than an elaborate magnet setup, so we can probably discount Mesmer's explanation now.

Since Milton Erickson came to prominance, it has become clear that many of the hypnotic techniques are based around the way in which people communicate, specifically how they receive and process information from others and how they develop a meaning for it. Much of this element of hypnosis is covered in the milton model.

Another interesting concept is that of rapport, whereby people can be 'pulled' into the same state of mind as the hypnotist. Perhaps this kind of 'sensitivity' had some evolutionary advantage in the past or as part of a child's development that we haven't figured out yet.

Considering the number of different effects and skills that are covered by the single word 'hypnosis', one thing that is clear is that the question 'How does Hypnosis Work?' is going to have to have more than one answer.