When you couple this with all the times Cartman is sent to the principles office at school and as he walks in he sighs out an apology before he even knows why he has been called there, with such a degree of insincerity that it maikes you laugh.

As with many apologies, some people just do not feel comfortable apologising if it is not truly meant… Yet there is evidence to suggest that doing so actually very good for you… Though maybe not in Cartmans case…

A client of mine told me this week that her sixteen year old was bullied at school and the bully was asked to apologise for some of the hurtful remarks made towards his classmate.

In a meeting with all parties, the bully said “no.”

When asked why, given that all parties had agreed his words were inappropriate and hurtful, his response was that he really didn’t feel sorry for his actions, and so therefore his apology would be (in his words,) “fake”. His mother quickly interjected, agreeing with him. She informed all present that she did not see why her son was being asked to make an apology when he didn’t feel sorry for his actions.

In a 2006 research study conducted on the human brain with a focus on congruency between language and actions, Aziz-Zadeh and her fellow researchers, discovered through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, that there was a clear congruence in the premotor cortex of the left hemisphere between visually presented actions and actions described by language… Check me out using the big words today (not my own words, quoted from this research).

So what does this mean?

It means that in the event an unapologetic adolescent is made to apologise for unfavourable actions towards others, it brings him (or her) a step closer towards his feelings matching with his actions. For parents who insist on taking the ‘laissez faire’ approach, they run the risk of their child never coming to terms that their actions were indeed wrong.

People who commit hurtful actions towards others, with an intellectual understanding of how badly the lives of the people on the receiving end will be affected, but they simply feel no sorrow for their actions. This is why advocacy groups will usually demand an apology for hurtful comments or actions made by a public figure of some sort; hurtful comments or actions usually directed towards a specific segment of the population… Like Randy had to do in South Park!

While a public apology may seem trivial, it has a powerful effect on the person making the apology, as it internally puts the apologiser at odds with his or her beliefs. The human brain is designed to be congruent, and when people engage in behaviour that contradicts their values, they experience inner turmoil until they have come to terms with the behaviour.

So not only is there some hypnotic effect upon the person being apologised to… There is a big self-hypnotic effect on the apologiser.

Ultimately, the notion of insisting of an apology goes beyond the concept of right and wrong, and promotes a genuine sense of empathy. I love that notion.

© Adam Eason Personal Development — visit Adam-Eason.com for great articles, interviews and more on hypnosis and personal development.

© Adam Eason Personal Development — visit Adam-Eason.com for great articles, interviews and more on hypnosis and personal development.

I have publicly and privately debated this … I have at times lost the will to live with this debate and then got back on one and gone for it again… My hypnotherapy students get asked to evaluate the variety of offerings and seeming difficulty in defining hypnosis… What actually is it? How do we go about telling other people what it is?

It has been argued about, fought over, discussed, debated and still no-one really has created a wholly ‘agreeable-upon’ definition of hypnosis – some might argue that it is virtually impossible to define such an intangible subject matter. Here is an attempt to distinguish between various different meanings of the word ‘hypnosis’ and related concepts according to many varying people within and related to this field of hypnosis:

Dictionary Definition(s)

Hypnosis. 1) Hypnotic trance; an altered state of awareness (’trance’) in which unconscious or dissociated responses to suggestion are enhanced in quality and increased in degree (’hyper-suggestibility’). 2) Hypnotic induction (’hypnogenesis’); the process by which hypnotic trance is induced in the operator (’auto-’ or ’self-hypnosis’) or in others (’hetero-hypnosis’). 3) Hypnotism; the field of study which encompasses, among other things, hypnotic trance; its induction, management, and application; and related subjects such as the phenomena of ‘waking suggestion’ and naturally occurring (’hypnoidal’) trance states. (Abbrv. of ‘neuro-hypnotism’ meaning ’sleep of the nervous system.’)

Then subsequently the term ‘Hypnotherapy’ gets described as the use of therapeutic techniques or principles in conjunction with hypnosis.

I’d say it is important for anyone to make sure they distinguish between hypnosis and hypnotherapy as well as the role of hypnotist and hypnotherapist.

I must be honest, I find the dictionary definition somewhat lacking in understanding and depth, but heck, they have one or two other words to attend to too, don’t they? They can be forgiven.

So here goes with a load of definitions and discussions for what hypnosis actually is… First up, the man himself, Scottish common sense hypnosis man, James Braid: (If you want to explore his life works, go and seek out the book recently edited and written by Donald Robertson ‘The Discovery of Hypnosis‘)

He is the man who first coined the term ‘hypnotism’ so he has some big authority and credibility in this debate, in my opinion. Though I have seen people on hypnosis discussion forums argue against even that notion!

Despite being introduced to the field by watching a Mesmerist perform a show, James Braid wanted to replace the supernatural theory of those mesemerists. Braid offered up a genuine scientific, medical account based on measurement and observation, thereby pioneering the early medical acceptance of hypnosis. Braid actually coined the term ‘Neuro-Hypnotism,’ which he himself abbreviated to ‘Hypnotism’:

“…a peculiar state of the nervous system, induced by a fixed and abstracted attention of the mental and visual eye, on one object, not of an exciting nature.”[Braid, Neurypnology, 1843]

Braid later reviewed his idea that hypnosis was a specific neurological state and replaced it with the theory that hypnosis was ‘monoideism,’ the fixation of consciousness on a single idea or object (and we got the eye fixation induction as a result):

“The real origin and essence of the hypnotic condition is the induction of a habit of abstraction or mental concentration, in which, as in reverie or spontaneous abstraction, the powers of the mind are so much engrossed with a single idea or train of thought, as, for the nonce, to render the individual unconscious of, or indifferently conscious to, all other ideas, impressions, or trains of thought.” [Braid, 1852: 53-54]

Hippolyte Bernheim: One of the great, early pioneers of hypnosis. Professor Bernheim not only had a very cool christian name, he was also an important figure in the history of French psychology and is credited with popularising the view that hypnosis is fundamentally both a state of heightened suggestibility and induced by means of suggestion. He also refuted the connection people made between hypnosis and sleep:

“To define hypnotism as induced sleep, is to give a too narrow meaning to the word, to overlook the many phenomena which suggestion can bring about independently of sleep. I define hypnotism as the induction of a peculiar psychical condition which increases the susceptibility to suggestion. Often, it is true, the sleep that may be induced facilitates suggestion, but it is not the necessary preliminary. It is suggestion that rules hypnotism.

I have tried to show that suggested sleep differs in no respect from natural sleep. The same phenomena of suggestion can be obtained in natural sleep, if one succeeds in putting one’s self into relationship [rapport] with the sleeping person without waking him.

This new idea which I propose concerning the hypnotic influence, this wider definition given to the word hypnotism, permits us to include in the same class of phenomena all the various methods which, acting upon imagination, induce the psychical condition of exalted susceptibility to suggestion [hyper-suggestibility] with or without sleep.” [Hippolyte Bernheim, Hypnosis & Suggestion in Psychotherapy, 1884: 15-16]

Ormond McGill may have been a wiley stage hypnotist, but remained very influential and well-loved in the hypnosis world until his fairly recent death. He stated:  “

“Basically, hypnosis can be regarded as a state of mind produced by the transference from one level of consciousness to another; a state with capacities for mental activities distinctly its own directly keyed to the automatic nervous system rather than the sympathetic (central nervous system) productive of the state of mind of somnambulism, i.e. subconscious behavior.” [The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism, 1996: p.12]

You’ll have to excuse his spelling, he is American! ;-)

The UK Book of Statues: Now here is one of those things that is sure to fire me up…. This is the official legal definition of “hypnotism” provided by the Hypnotism Act 1952, however, I would like to point out what utter nonsense and garbage I think this is, what’s more I think it is incredibly misleading in that it implies hypnosis is a state of ’sleep.’

This is a step backwards, and did not examine findings of medical researchers such as Bernheim and even Freud. Very annoying way of marrying up mesmerism, hypnosis and likening it to phenomena which has very little to do with hypnosis. This definition, as stated in the Hypnotism Act, still stands in British law:

“Hypnotism” includes hypnotism, mesmerism and any similar act or process which produces or is intended to produce in any person any form of induced sleep or trance in which the susceptibility of the mind of that person to suggestion or direction is increased or intended to be increased but does not include hypnotism, mesmerism or any similar act or process which is self-induced. [The Hypnotism Act, 1952]

Pah!

The British Medical Association (BMA): Conscious of the uselessness of the previous definition, the British Medical Association wisely decided to offer up their own definition in response to the Hypnotism Act.

This definition concentrates on the measurable psychological and physiological changes in hypnosis. Note well that it deliberately substitutes ‘altered attention’ for the misleading expression ‘induced sleep’ used by the Book of Statues. Although phrased in medical jargon, this is a considerable improvement in my opinion:

“A temporary condition of altered attention in the subject which may be induced by another person and in which a variety of phenomena may appear spontaneously or in response to verbal or other stimuli. These phenomena include alterations in consciousness and memory, increased susceptibility to suggestion, and the production in the subject of responses and ideas unfamiliar to him in his usual state of mind. Further, phenomena such as anaesthesia, paralysis and rigidity of muscles, and vasomotor changes can be produced and removed in the hypnotic state.” [BMA, 'Medical use of Hypnotism', 1955]

If you ever explore this further, you could examine the American Medical Association’s definition which is seemingly pages long!

Dave Elman: Mr Elman (or ‘Big Dave’ as I like to refer to him) is one of the most highly respected figures in the history of clinical hypnotherapy. Many refer to his book “Hypnotherapy” as a must-have for any hypnotherapist – I am not one of those many, as it happens.

He pioneered the use of rapid induction techniques and was a great advocate of the hypno-analytic approach to therapy. His work is characterised by a common sense approach. He did believe that only medical professionals should use hypnosis and much of his work was aimed at the medical community:

“Hypnosis is a state of mind in which the critical faculty of the human is bypassed, and selective thinking established.” [Dave Elman, Hypnotherapy, 1964: 26]

A man whose work I really rather like, Stephen Gilligan, states:

“Hypnosis is conceptualized as an experientially absorbing interactional sequence that produces an altered state of consciousness wherein self-expressions begin to happen automatically, without conscious mediation.” (Gilligan, Stephen, G., Therapeutic Trances, 1987)

Finally then, I’ll offer up this little lot from Dr. Milton H. Erickson himself…

In “The Collected Papers of Milton H. Erickson, Volume I” page 113, Erickson is quoted as stating:

“The hypnotic state is an experience that belongs to the subject, derives from the subject’s own accumulated learning’s and memories, not necessarily consciously recognized, but possible of manifestations in a special state of non waking awareness”.

And one of my favourite explanations can be found within The Collected Papers of Milton H. Erickson, Volume IV of the same series, page 224,

“It is a state of consciousness – not unconsciousness or sleep – a state of consciousness or awareness in which there is a marked receptiveness to ideas and understandings and an increased willingness to respond either positively or negatively to those ideas. It derives from processes and functioning within the subject. And is not some mystical procedure, but rather a systematic utilization of experiential learning’s– that is, the extensive learning’s acquired through the process of living itself.”
For those preferring something very easy to remember, from “Experiencing Hypnosis”, pg. 187, 1981, Erickson so eloquently states:

“All hypnosis is, is a loss of the multiplicity of the foci of attention.”

Check that out! I think that is the most hypnotic definition of hypnosis that exists!  There are many, many more definitions, ideas, notions and so on… These are some that stand out for me….

© Adam Eason Personal Development — visit Adam-Eason.com for great articles, interviews and more on hypnosis and personal development.

Despite the ironic tones from yours truly, a fabulous piece of research discussed and mentioned here last week (thanks Richard) and is now being mentioned by the BBC and other news sources… The research team included Professor Irving Kirsch, a world-known expert in hypnosis, Professor Annalena Venneri, an expert in brain imaging techniques and Professor Giuliana Mazzoni, an expert in suggestion and suggestibility… This hypnosis article at the BBC states:

Hypnosis has a “very real” effect that can be picked up on brain scans, say Hull University researchers.

An imaging study of hypnotised participants showed decreased activity in the parts of the brain linked with daydreaming or letting the mind wander.

The same brain patterns were absent in people who had the tests but who were not susceptible to being hypnotised.

One psychologist said the study backed the theory that hypnosis “primes” the brain to be open to suggestion.

Hypnosis is increasingly being used to help people stop smoking or lose weight and advisers recently recommended its use on the NHS to treat irritable bowel syndrome.

It is not the first time researchers have tried to use imaging studies to monitor brain activity in people under hypnosis.

But the Hull team said these had been done while people had been asked to carry out tasks, so it was not clear whether the changes in the brain were due to the act of doing the task or an effect of hypnosis.

In the latest study, the team first tested how people responded to hypnosis and selected 10 individuals who were “highly suggestible” and seven people who did not really respond to the technique other than becoming more relaxed.

The participants were asked to do a task under hypnosis, such as listening to non-existent music, but unknown to them the brain activity was being monitored in the rest periods in between tasks, the team reported in the journal Consciousness and Cognition.

Default mode

In the “highly suggestible” group there was decreased activity in the part of the brain involved in daydreaming or letting the mind wander – also known as the “default mode” network.

One suggestion of how hypnosis works, supported by the results, is that shutting off this activity leaves the brain free to concentrate on other tasks.

Study leader Dr William McGeown, a lecturer in the department of psychology, said the results were unequivocal because they only occurred in the highly suggestible subjects.

“This shows that the changes were due to hypnosis and not just simple relaxation. “Our study shows hypnosis is real.”

Dr Michael Heap, a clinical forensic psychologist based in Sheffield, said the experiment was unique in showing brain patterns supporting the theory that hypnosis works by “priming” the subject to respond more effectively to suggestions.

“Importantly the data confirm that relaxation is not a critical factor.

“The limited data from this experiment suggest that this pattern of activity then dissipates (at least to some extent) once the subjects start to engage in the suggestions that follow.”

But he said the small study, which needed repeating in other populations, did not prove that people being hypnotised were in an actual “trance”.

There are some great themes outlined here and some inportant information for anyone with an interest in this field. Delighted to see this reaching mass media. Very happy indeed. Hypnosis is real, hoorah :-)

© Adam Eason Personal Development — visit Adam-Eason.com for great articles, interviews and more on hypnosis and personal development.

Hmmm… (Rubs chin)

I was amazed because daydreaming is often blamed for all kinds of occasions when we have ‘wandered off’ and been a bit of a space cadet for a few moments or more.

I have written before about being in a conversation with 3 men at a business breakfast several years ago and suddenly realised that all three were staring at me expectantly… I had been asked a question and had no idea what it was or who had asked it!

There was even another occasion whereby I “came to” on the motorway driving to Newbury and realised I was in Oxford… “Where the hell did Newbury go?!”

Lots of people have experienced the same thing. So I was not surprised that the pilots had overshot that distance.

This is, however, one of the ways in which daydreaming gets a bit of bad publicity… Daydreaming gets associated with being out of control, or being the occupation of air-heads… Yet I think of it as a beautifully delicious thing to do.

Despite me just loving the state of daydreaming, there is more to it… There are benefits too… One of the reasons we can get away with daydreaming so frequently and why we can experience its many benefits is that it enhances creative problem solving, idea generation, conceptualising and I am delighted to say that the daydreaming mind seems to have a built-in “capacity for interruption,” according to researcher and psychologist Dr. Jerome Singer.

You’ve seen it, you’ve experienced it… This mechanism lets us shift from inner to outer worlds with lightning speed as some external event punctures that daydream, like someone beeping their car horn, a song coming on the radio or the screaming pleas of air traffic controllers….

It’s as if the brain has made some bargain–the risk of an occasional missed cue (the exit sign) for the extra brain power we get via daydreaming.

We can manage the external world and daydream at the same time. To do that you have to know what you can get away with. Some part of the brain has to know. This idea is often used (though in slightly different terms) to illustrate the metaphor of conscious and unconscious functioning in hypnosis… And many people liken hypnosis and self-hypnosis to the state of daydreaming.

On the flip side of this discussion, it is accurate to say that the deeper we are in a state of concentration (the pilots working on their laptops) or a state of flow (an artist working on a painting), or me with my nose to the keyboard writing a blog entry for you…. the harder it is to respond reflexively to interruptions.

So what I am suggesting here today is that it’s probably safer to lapse into a daydream while driving than to become heavily focused on a conversation or anything else that makes it hard for us to shift mental gears.

Daydreaming plays another role during the performance of mundane tasks besides letting us investigate multiple goals and ideas. It seems counterintuitive, but daydreaming actually helps keep us awake and reasonably alert. Studies have shown that when subjects have to keep their mind focused on a boring task – say, monitoring a security camera or long-distance driving – they become drowsier faster than when they’re allowed to let their minds wander.

You’ve probably experienced something similar while driving or sitting in on some endless meeting; if you didn’t have mental scenarios to engage you, you would have been asleep at the wheel a long time ago. So a little mind wandering is not a bad thing. It’s a very human thing–a built-in exit ramp to creativity. While daydreaming, we can explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no man has gone before–all while commuting to and from work…

You can then of course learn how to utilise those states even better if you learn to use self-hypnosis skills… I know a good author on that subject, his books, seminars and audio programmes on learning how to use self-hypnosis are second to none… I’ll recall his name and let you know… have a marvellous weekend. :-)

© Adam Eason Personal Development — visit Adam-Eason.com for great articles, interviews and more on hypnosis and personal development.