Hypnotism Is It Magic Or Reality

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is in complete consciousness. Approximately 75 percent of this level is spent regulating vital bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and digestion. The second state is called alpha. Alpha refers to when the mind is in 95 to 100 percent concentration. When hypnosis is induced, the mind is in the alpha level. In this state the mind is fully aware and conscious, but the outside appearance of the body suggests the person being hypnotized is asleep. The last two activity levels are theta and delta. In theta the unconscious mind is in a light sleep, and delta refers to the deepest sleep possible (Goldberg 13-14).

Hypnosis takes place in the alpha level because the mind is still in a conscious state (Goldberg 14). During hypnosis dissociation occurs, which is when part of the mind’s experience is separated from conscious awareness (Barber 2). This is why a hypnotized person is prone to believe suggestions made, no matter how absurd they are. "A deeply hypnotized ...

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As Karen Olness, M.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio explains, "All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. We all tune things in and out all day long. For example, I can focus on the conversation we’re having and choose not to notice that I have a slight pain in my right shoulder. I can choose which signals to pay attention to and not pay attention to" (qtd. from Hypnosis and Biofeedback 104). There is not a difference between the hypnotic trance of a person under self-hypnosis and a person under heterohypnosis or autohypnosis (Goldberg 28).

No one knows the exact time hypnosis developed, but it is believed that it was first used by religious leaders, witch ...

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