Hypnotic Pioneers

Introduction

The use of hypnosis has been recorded since the beginning of mankind. It was used as far back as 3766 BC in ancient Greece and Egypt by sorcerers who were known to perform 'miracles' using hypnosis. In fact the term 'hypnosis' actually comes from the Greek work 'hypnos' meaning sleep.

The following information describes some of the main pioneers of hypnosis in the last few hundred years:

Franz Anton Mesmer (1734 - 1815)

Franz Mesmer, from whose name the word mesmerism is derived, is often thought of as one of the first stage hypnotists. However, it is widely accepted that his initial interest in hypnosis began after seeing a conjurer who appeared to have a group of people performing peculiar antics in a street show. The conjuror could make a member of his group apparently cry and sob just at the mere touch of his 'magic wand'.

Previously Mesmer had studied the theory of Animal Magnetism after seeing a woodcutter in a forest who had been badly cut. Apparently the bleeding would slow noticeably when Mesmer approached the woodcutter, and would increase again when Mesmer retreated.

He soon developed a set of procedures that involved him attempting to store his own magnetism in large baths filled with iron filings. He would then transfer this power to his subjects by passing magnetic rods, which had attracted some of the iron filings, over the persons body. The technique became known as 'mesmeric passing'. This process was known to often take many hours during which time the subject had to remain perfectly still.

Mesmer soon became a very well known stage hypnotist, after learning from his experiences with the conjuror. He had many great successes with hypnosis until members of the medical profession branded his as an evil charlatan and stopped him from performing.

Mesmer was not about to let his amazing talent dwindle in such a manner, and he soon moved to France where he opened several clinics. It was here that Mesmer began to fully understand the power of subconscious suggestions.

Mesmer's popularity and success rocketed thus causing a lot of antagonism with his fellow practitioners who preferred a more orthodox way of healing patients.

Eventually, after being investigated by a French Royal Commission, Mesmer was branded a fake and forced to return home in disgrace.

James Braid (1795 - 1860)

James Braid's initial interest in hypnosis actually happened by accident. As a Scottish Eye Doctor, he was once late for an appointment at a surgery.

Upon his arrival, he found his patient to be staring into a lamp with glazed eyes.

Braid realised that he could give this person simple commands, such as close your eyes, go to sleep and so on, and the patient would accept them without question.

Braid discovered that the hypnotic state was actually due to the state of mind of the subject, and that by gaining the persons full attention, it was possible to induce a hypnotic trance.

This brought Mesmer's theories of 'mesmeric passing' into questions, and Braid soon published a book that introduce many of today's widely accepted theories of hypnotism.

Milton Erickson (1901 - 1980)

Milton Erickson (MD) is widely accepted as one of the worlds foremost medical hypnotists.

As a child her was paralysed by polio, and although he initially regained his mobility, another attack when he was older left him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Erickson was a renowned psychotherapist and used his abilities to constantly observe the different characteristics and body language signs often exhibited by people.

At the time, all medical hypnotists used a very authoritarian approach to their patients, but Erickson realised that this approach did not often work and so he pioneered the more acceptable Indirect Hypnosis that is so widely used today.

He was able to meet individual patients on their own level and build upon his subject's perception of things to pass his suggestions using a well structure 'casual' conversation.

Erickson applied a lot of what he learned to his hypnosis tuition, and soon developed a set of components, that when put together, would create a successful trance state.

Erickson believed that people are not actually 'broken', and that their behaviour somehow helped the person to exist.

Nowadays, many establishments adhere strictly to the teachings of Milton Erickson, and his work often forms the basis of Neuro Linguistic Programming.