The History of Hypnosis
The state of trance is part of being human and has been utilized and recognized since the beginning of humans on Earth. It has been documented to be used throughout history in various religious and healing ceremonies. Examples of hypnosis being utilized has appeared in various ancient texts and hieroglyphics through out time.
A pivotal point in the history of hypnosis occurred during the 18th century with the work of Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) who some consider the father of hypnosis. He was the first one to suggest a rational basis for the effects of hypnosis and he found he could treat conditions without surgery or medicine. He did this by what he believed to be channeling magnetism through the body. His techniques were dramatic and showy and was referred to as “mesmerism”. Due to a disagreement with the French government at the time, an appointed commission deemed mesmerism to be a farce.
Another turning point was during the 19th century with the work and research of James Braid (1795-1860). He published a book called “Neurohypnology” in which the term hypnosis is derived. His research consisted of focused attention and suggestion and he found that people would go into a trance-like state by focusing on a bright object.
Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1893) used hypnosis to treat hysterics and categorized it as an abnormal neurological activity or seizure-like activity and Hyppolyte Bernheim (1837-1919), who was a professor of medicine at the University of Nancy, regarded hypnosis as a form of sleep where the subject’s attention is highly focused to the suggestions made by the hypnotist. He emphasized the psychological nature of hypnosis.
Also during the 19th century, John Elliotson (1791-1868) and James Esdaille (1808-1859) began to apply hypnosis in the medical field and by the end of the century, hypnosis was accepted as a valid clinical technique and was applied and taught in universities and hospitals.
By the 1920’s, hypnosis became a focus of research by Clark Hull (1884-1952) who declared that hypnosis is a normal part of human nature and focused on the subjects varying ability to respond to suggestion and go into trance. He published research called “Hypnosis and Suggestability” in 1933 and this was regarded as the first major scientific text on hypnosis.
By the 1950’s, hypnosis was recognized by modern medicine as a valid therapy and in 1958, the American Medical Association approved it for medical use. Two years later, the American Medical Association endorsed hypnosis as a branch of psychology.
Milton Erickson (1901-1980) is generally considered the most influential hypnotist of the 20th century. He developed and expanded techniques and began the use of indirect suggestions and subtle language patterns as opposed to direct suggestion from an authoritarian figure and this is referred to as Ericksonian hypnosis.
Thanks to advances in neurological science and brain imaging, British psychologists Joe Griffin (1954-?) and Ivan Tyrell (1943-?) were able to link hypnosis to Rapid Eye movement (REM) and determined that hypnotic trance is an everyday experience. They determined that people go in and out of a series of trance states all the time.
The use of hypnosis has continued to develop through the years and is now found to be a very valuable tool for bringing about change in humans through the mind/body connection. Hypnosis will continue to develop as a powerful and effective tool that directs the power of the mind.
A pivotal point in the history of hypnosis occurred during the 18th century with the work of Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) who some consider the father of hypnosis. He was the first one to suggest a rational basis for the effects of hypnosis and he found he could treat conditions without surgery or medicine. He did this by what he believed to be channeling magnetism through the body. His techniques were dramatic and showy and was referred to as “mesmerism”. Due to a disagreement with the French government at the time, an appointed commission deemed mesmerism to be a farce.
Another turning point was during the 19th century with the work and research of James Braid (1795-1860). He published a book called “Neurohypnology” in which the term hypnosis is derived. His research consisted of focused attention and suggestion and he found that people would go into a trance-like state by focusing on a bright object.
Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1893) used hypnosis to treat hysterics and categorized it as an abnormal neurological activity or seizure-like activity and Hyppolyte Bernheim (1837-1919), who was a professor of medicine at the University of Nancy, regarded hypnosis as a form of sleep where the subject’s attention is highly focused to the suggestions made by the hypnotist. He emphasized the psychological nature of hypnosis.
Also during the 19th century, John Elliotson (1791-1868) and James Esdaille (1808-1859) began to apply hypnosis in the medical field and by the end of the century, hypnosis was accepted as a valid clinical technique and was applied and taught in universities and hospitals.
By the 1920’s, hypnosis became a focus of research by Clark Hull (1884-1952) who declared that hypnosis is a normal part of human nature and focused on the subjects varying ability to respond to suggestion and go into trance. He published research called “Hypnosis and Suggestability” in 1933 and this was regarded as the first major scientific text on hypnosis.
By the 1950’s, hypnosis was recognized by modern medicine as a valid therapy and in 1958, the American Medical Association approved it for medical use. Two years later, the American Medical Association endorsed hypnosis as a branch of psychology.
Milton Erickson (1901-1980) is generally considered the most influential hypnotist of the 20th century. He developed and expanded techniques and began the use of indirect suggestions and subtle language patterns as opposed to direct suggestion from an authoritarian figure and this is referred to as Ericksonian hypnosis.
Thanks to advances in neurological science and brain imaging, British psychologists Joe Griffin (1954-?) and Ivan Tyrell (1943-?) were able to link hypnosis to Rapid Eye movement (REM) and determined that hypnotic trance is an everyday experience. They determined that people go in and out of a series of trance states all the time.
The use of hypnosis has continued to develop through the years and is now found to be a very valuable tool for bringing about change in humans through the mind/body connection. Hypnosis will continue to develop as a powerful and effective tool that directs the power of the mind.