• Home >
• Hypnosis Articles >

What is Hypnosis?

When it comes to asking What is hypnosis?, it's important to remember that the word hypnosis is used in many different contexts. Firstly we have the usual, historic view of what is hypnosis - as seen in the movies - a state in which people seem to be particularly open to the helpful suggestions of a hypnotist. This is the standard hypnotic trance, and some people believe that the concept of hypnosis refers only to this - a special state of mind that the hypnotist can move the client into. In reality, this doesn't cover all the contexts in which the word is used or the skills usually associated with hypnosis.

When you ask what is hypnosis? We also have the concept of suggestion - that is the use of hypnotic language whether someone is in a trance or not. This is the kind of hypnosis that Derren Brown is always accused of, whether he is using it or not.

The word can also be used to describe the somewhat unethical effect achieved by advertisers who get us to buy their products by parading them on our television sets night after night.

So it seems that hypnosis is a word that really refers to a number of different 'effects' based around communication. It may be (and this is just my own opinion) that many of the effects of hypnosis are side effects of how the brain has evolved, or leftovers from thought processes that are useful for children's development - but that could just be my own flight of fancy - like everyone else I'd really like to know 'what is hypnosis?'

But one thing that is clear is that a hypnotist can develop skills that allow them to influence, affect, and help an individual, whether they know how it works or not. In many ways, a more important question is How does Hypnosis work?

Related Articles

• Return to top of What is Hypnosis?