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A
Aesthesiogenic -
Sensations of a sensory nature produced by suggestion.
Abreaction -
Occurs when the energy of repressed emotion is brought to
consciousness. Catharsis. An exaggerated emotional reaction.
Agnosia -
Condition where patient is unable to correctly interpret sensory
impressions.
Agoraphobia -
Traditionally defined as the irrational fear of open spaces
(from the latin for market place) but is equally often a fear
of becoming caught in situation, without means of escape.
Paradoxically, this causes withdrawal from that possibility
by self confinement.
Alcoholism -
Addiction to the consumption alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic.
Alexia -
Inability to recognise the written word as words. This condition
is often the result of a brain lesion but can be caused by
suggestion.
Algophobia -
Morbid dread of physical pain.
Allergy -
A condition (allergic reaction) in which the patient becomes
pathologically sensitive to a particular substance or substances.
Amnesia -
The loss of memory, partial or total, often caused by shock
or trauma. Can be due to physical causes, can be caused by
suggestion. Sometimes occurs spontaneously after arousal from
hypnosis.
Analgesia -
Reduction or loss of the sensation of pain, can be achieved
through hypnosis.
Anchorages -
Frames of reference which people use to make further judgements.
Anchoring -
The technique of associating several 'keys' with one fixed
point of reference, with the idea of using those keys to later
evoke that fixed reference. Form of conditioning by association
of ideas. Used in NLP and clinical hypnosis.
Anaesthesia -
Loss of sensation and sensitivity, usually due to chemical
agent (as with surgery) but is also an important phenomenon
of deep hypnosis. Hypnosis can be used as an anaesthetic and
many instances of its usage are on record.
Animal Magnetism -
A term coined by Franz Anton Mesmer (1734 - 1815), who theorised
that the effects of 'hypnotism' (which was then to be called
'Mesmerism' after him and before that time known as 'Charming')
were due to a fluidic magnetic medium that could be passed
from person to person.
Anorexia Nervosa -
Severe eating disorder, incorporating dysmorphia. Patients
may even hallucinate that they are over weight when close
to starvation. Characterised by refusal to maintain body weight
at a healthy level.
Anxiety -
A state of disturbance characterised by fear and worry, which
often leads to stress. May be rational or irrational. Responds
well to Clinical hypnosis.
Aphasia -
Loss of the ability to speak, usually through non-physical
causes and typically a symptom of hysteria. Can also be produced
by hypnosis (without the presence of hysteria). Can also be
caused by lesions of the brain (cortical).
Aphemia -
Inability to speak certain words.
Arachnaphobia -
Excessive fear of spiders.
Asthma -
A disorder of the respiratory system which may be of allergic
or emotional origin. Where there is an emotional origin the
condition can be successfully treated by hypnosis, usually
through regression.
Astraphobia -
Excessive fear of thunder and lightening
Atavistic Theory -
The theory proposed by Ainslie Meares M.D. to explain the
phenomenon of hypnosis. He posited that in hypnosis the higher
centres of the brain are systematically closed down and access
is gain to parts of the brain which are primitive and pre-rational.
Thus hypnosis could be explained as a form of regression to
pre-critical functioning.
Attention -
The ability to sustain ones awareness by focusing it on a
particular thing.
Aura -
The feelings experienced by patients before an attack of epilepsy
or migraine headache which warns them of it's imminence.
Auto-Hypnosis -
Is where an individual has learned the ability to place himself
in a state of hypnosis.
Autogenic -
Relating to things which originate within the self.
Autonomic -
Self directed, independent.
Autonomic Nervous System –
The nervous system responsible for many of the body's functions,
particularly those of the glands, the smooth muscles, respiration
and circulation. It is located along the spine and cerebro-spinal
system and completely efferent in function. Its is reactive
and responsible for the 'Fight or Flight 'response.
Auto-Suggestion -
Suggestions which originate from within the self.
Aversion -
A strong dislike of something.
Aversion Therapy -
A form of de-conditioning by associating something unpleasant
with a particular behaviour pattern you are trying to eradicate.
Typical of behaviour therapy it is used sometimes in hypnosis,
for example, to associate a foul thing (like dog excrement
or vomit) to the act / taste of smoking, thus helping to de-condition
and extinguish the habit.
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B
Bathophobia -
Excessive fear of deep water.
Behaviour Therapy -
A means of modifying behaviour by examining the symptoms of
a particular problem, then employing various conditioning
techniques to modify or remove these symptoms, ie. flooding,
reciprocal inhibition, aversion therapy, systematic desensitization,
massed practice etc.
Biofeedback -
The use of electronic apparatus to give specific signals to
indicate changes in the body. Through using this 'feedback'
of information patients can learn to affect the normally autonomic
processes like heart rate and blood pressure. Can be used
in hypnosis to teach tense patients how to relax.
Birth Trauma -
Trauma and anxiety caused by the rigours of the birth process.
A possible cause of some free floating anxiety. Re-birthing
(developed by Leonard Orr) is designed to reconnect and release
the patient from the effects of this trauma. In hypnosis the
patient would be regressed to this birth time, with similar
effects.
Blepharospasm -
A condition which causes involuntary spasm and closure of
the eyelids. Can have physiological or psychological origins.
If the origins of the difficulty are found to be psychological
it can be treated with hypnosis and /or behaviour therapy.
Breast Growth -
It is claimed by some clinicians that hypnosis and suggestion
can be used to effect breast enlargement. An effect may be
due to suggestions of improved blood flow, posture or confidence.
Braid, James -
A British physician and surgeon (1795 - 1860), known as the
father of modern
hypnosis after proposing the first modern theory of the state
and conducting a good deal of research. He first used the
name hypnosis in 'Neurypnology' his book published in 1843.
Bruxism -
An habitual condition in which patients unconsciously grind
their teeth, usually during sleep. This condition can become
so severe that serious damage is done to teeth and jaws. Usually
of emotional origin, typically due to repressed anger and
feelings of resentment, this condition can be treated successfully
with hypnosis.
Bulimia Nervosa -
Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by intense
desire to binge, which is followed by self induced vomiting.
Physical damage is not as apparent as with Anorexia Nervosa
but it can be equally psychologically harmful. Much ego strengthening
will be required. This condition can be treated with hypnosis
but a number of sessions will be required.
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C
Case History -
Details of the patients life circumstances in general and
specific particulars of his presenting problem. Usually taken
before treatment commences, it can provide important pointers
to the cause and cure of the problem. Never underestimate
the value of a detailed case history.
Catalepsy -
A condition observed in some forms of mental illness and also
a phenomenon obtainable by hypnosis, where a patients limb
or limbs becomes rigid and can be placed in any position,
where it will remain.
Catharsis -
This word literally means 'purging' and describes the process
of releasing repressed or pent-up emotional energy. This is
usually affected by 'reliving', re-experiencing, acting out
or talking out the memories of causal events.
Censor -
According to psychoanalysis this is a psychological 'mechanism'
which acts as a kind of filter or barrier to prevent repressed
material or impulses from coming into consciousness.
Cephalagra -
The correct term for headache.
Charming -
Pre-Mesmer hypnosis, also animal hypnosis (re: snake charming
etc)
Chevreul's Pendulum -
A simple method of determining or increasing a patient's suggestibility.
A small pendulum is held over paper on which a cross (two
intersecting lines) are drawn. Then the patient begins to
swing the pendulum along one of the lines, while the hypnotist
suggests that it will begin to gradually move from it's path
until it is swinging along the path of the other line.
Claustrophobia -
Morbid fear of enclosed spaces
Closure -
The completion of a psychological process. Developed in Gestalt
psychology.
Complex -
A psychological matrix of related emotional material. Term
originating with Jung.
Compulsion -
Where a patient feels an irresistible urge to carry out an
act, whether a thought or a pattern of behaviour, even against
his will. (re: compulsive behaviour).
Concentration -
The fixing of attention in one place or on one thing.
Conditioned Reflex -
Is where an action is carried out in response to a trigger
because the action and the trigger (stimuli) have become associated
(conditioned). Term originating with Ivan P. Pavlov.
Classical Conditioning -
The process of associating a stimulus with a response.
Conscience -
A persons moral censor which guides that persons conduct.
Contrasuggestibility -
A curious tendency in some individuals (rare) to respond to
a suggestion by acting out the opposite of it's intention.
Coprolalia -
Compulsion to speak obscenities
Coprophobia -
Irrational excessive dread of Faeces.
Coue, Emile -
Pioneer of auto-suggestion (1857 - 1926) and originator of
the famous formula, "Day by day and in every way I am
getting better and better".
Counter Suggestion -
A suggestion given to neutralise a previous suggestion or
belief.
Critical Faculty -
The ability to make a decision regarding the validity of a
particular thing depends upon the exercise of the critical
faculty. It is associated with the conscious mind and left
hemisphere of the brain. Absence, of the critical faculty
means that all 'proposals' are accepted as valid and as such
is the temporary goal of hypnosis. Dreams are a good example
of the state of the mind with the critical faculty in abeyance,
as the most improbable things can take place in them but they
seem perfectly realistic at the time.
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D
Deepening -
Once the trance state has been induced it can then be deepened.
This usually takes the form of a simple count down from 10
to 1 (along with suitably relaxing suggestions), or perhaps
some form of guided imagery, such as descending a long flight
of stairs.
Defence Mechanism -
Usually associated with the 'censor' it is a psychological
strategy to prevent painful, repressed or unpleasant material
from coming to consciousness, where it might have to be faced
and dealt with.
Dehypnotization -
Bringing the hypnotic state to an end and waking the patient.
Usually arranged to happen at a particular signal, such as
the count from one to five. Always remember to remove or nullify
suggestions that you do not intend to remain.
Demophobia -
Excessive fear of crowds
Dental Hypnosis -
Typically hypnosis used to minimise the pain of dental surgery
or to overcome a patients morbid fear of dentistry.
Depersonalization -
A psychological condition common to many mental illnesses
but one which can also be brought about in deep hypnosis when
amnesia robs the patient of his immediate personal identity.
Depression -
An extended feeling of hopelessness and inadequacy, lowness
of mood. Clinical depression (endogenous) is difficult to
treat with hypnosis and should only be undertaken with medical
supervision. Reactive depression (exogenous depression due
to a particular cause, such as losing employment or a loved
one) can be treated with hypnosis but great care must still
be taken and the patient should be advised to visit his doctor
first.
Dermatosis -
The family of skin diseases. Can have organic and allergic
causes but often are due to emotional conflicts and false
learnings, in which instance they can respond well to clinical
hypnosis.
Desensitization -
Desensitization (systematic) is a therapeutic method developed
in Behaviour Therapy (by Joseph Wolpe) where by the patient
is gradually exposed to the source of his anxiety while at
the same time engaging in anxiety inhibiting behaviour, such
as deep muscle relaxation. Thereby affecting de-conditioning.
Hypnosis can be combined to good effect with systematic desensitisation
to form the therapy of Hypno-desesitisation.
Diagnosis -
The process of discerning the nature of an ailment.
Direct Suggestion -
An openly stated hypnotic command, direct, authoritative and
without guile. It's meaning can be taken at face value. In
contrast to indirect suggestion.
Dissociation -
The separation of one part of the mind from the other part
or parts. Thought to be at the root of many mental illnesses
(multiple personalities for example) but is also a phenomenon
readily available in hypnosis and active imagination techniques,
where it can be used therapeutically. Many problems respond
to the communication with and 're-integration' of split off
parts.
Dominant Effect (The Law of) -
Simply states that a strong emotion will always displace a
weaker one (the rule being that only one emotional state can
exist in experience at any one time). Try to evoke and connect
emotion to your suggestions and they will be much more effective.
Also, to move a feeling or emotion out of experience evoke
a stronger one. Its difficult to feel anxious when you are
angry or happy.
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E
Echolalia -
Also known as echophrasia. Where the hypnotised subject automatically
repeats the words of the hypnotist (even when the words make
no sense or are in a foreign language) in parrot fashion.
Ego -
Freud proposed the Ego as part of the mind in direct interface
with reality balancing the urges of the Id and the demands
of the Super-Ego. More commonly accepted to mean the individuals
sense of self.
Egocentricity -
Acting as if the world revolves around the self and the self
is the centre of the world.
Eidetic -
Refers to eidetic memory and eidetic imagery. Commonly known
as photographic memory. Can be induced in deep hypnosis, to
the point where (with fantasy) it becomes hallucination.
Engram -
The name given to the idea that memory is stored 'traces'
or 'images' in the brain. Thus memories are stores in engrams.
Esdaile, James -
Early pioneer of modern hypnosis (Edinburgh, Great Britain
1808 - 1859) performed major surgery using only hypnosis for
anaesthetic.
Eye Fixation -
Simply having the subject fix their gaze on a point (to narrow
and focus their attention).
Eye Closure -
The point in hypnotic induction when the subjects can no longer
keep their eyes open. At this point the hypnotist has achieved
eye closure.
Eyelid Catalepsy -
A good test of receptivity to suggestion and eyelid relaxation.
The subject is told after eye closure that their eyelids are
so relaxed that they cannot open them (sometimes the subject
is also asked to look upwards as if at a point on their forehead).
When this is shown to be the case, eyelid catalepsy has been
achieved.
Enuresis -
Involuntary urination. Nocturnal enuresis is involuntary urination
at night, commonly known as bed wetting. Can be treated with
hypnosis to good effect.
Epinosic -
The psychoanalytical term for secondary gain.
Erethism -
Where a part of the body becomes extremely sensitive, can
have organic causes or can be induced by in hypnosis.
Erotophobia -
Irrational fear of sexual stimuli /arousal.
Expectation -
Expectation is an important factor to take into account before
beginning hypnosis.If the patient expects to be successfully
hypnotised he probably will be. Also in pre-induction talks
always take the time to ensure patients have realistic idea
of what the hypnotic state will be like and what the likely
outcome of it will be.
Extinction -
The term given to the process of de-conditioning a reflex,
more commonly known as breaking a habit. The condition is
said to be made extinct.
Extravert -
A term originally coined by C.G.Jung which has passed into
popular parlance to describe an outward going personality
type. As opposed to Introvert.
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F
.Fascination -
The process of bringing about a hypnotic state by fixing the
gaze on a point (typically a small shiny object). Also animal
hypnosis.
Fight or Flight -
This is not a threat to get a nervous passenger onto an aeroplane.
The fight or flight response represents the two basic choices
(supervised by the autonomic nervous system) that we have
in response to an alarming development. These instinctive
choices were once necessary for our survival in an early predatory
environment but are largely obsolete in the modern civilised
world. They remain as options that can rarely be taken and
severe stress can result from these natural impulses being
thwarted.
Filter Theory -
The theory that the hypnotic state is a result of the mind's
attention becoming more and more selective and narrow in it's
focus. Whether this is fixation on an external object, the
sound of the therapist's voice or fixation on the process
of relaxation, the subject can eventually filter out almost
everything - including the critical faculty. The mind becomes
absorbed in the 'tension' of attention.
Fixation -
In hypnosis, focusing of the attention at a singular point.
In psychoanalysis, the arresting of development at a particular
point.
Free Association -
Technique originating in psychoanalysis which is now commonly
used in many therapies where the intention is to arrive at
memories and ideas that are not available to conscious recollection.
Stimulus words are given to which the patient responds with
the first word that is evoked. Sometimes used in Hypno-analysis.
Fractionation -
In hypnosis, this is a method of induction (Vogt's fractionation
method) where the subject is partially relaxed then roused
and asked to recount the sensations experienced. Then the
hypnosis/relaxation continues again, often with the therapist
'feeding back' the recounted experience and leading the patient
still deeper. The patient is then roused again and his experiences
sought, before the hypnosis resumes once again. The process
continues until a deep trance state is obtained.
Freud, Sigmund -
Born in Morovia (1856 - 1939), he studied and spent most of
his life in Vienna.
Trained with the eminent neurologist J. M. Charcot and experimented
with hypnosis. Freud established the practice of psychoanalysis
and spent the rest of his life contributing to it's theory.
Frigidity -
Lack of sexual desire in a woman. Can have organic or psychological
origin.
Functional disorders -
These are problems which affect the physical body but have
a psychological origin.
Fusion -
In hypnotic practice this is the process of joining two or
more normally disparate concepts, feelings or even memories
of experience to form a new experience. For a simple example
- if a patient feels anxiety at the sight of a cat but can
clearly remember the feeling of happiness at receiving a special
gift then ideo-fusion can be used in hypnosis to connect the
image of a cat to the feeling of pleasure at receiving a gift,
by having the patient summon both image and sensation at the
same time.
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G
Glove Anaesthesia -
Can occur as a symptom of some mental illnesses (where normal
sensation can normally be restored by hypnosis) but can also
be induced with hypnosis. It is typically used as a method
of enabling patients to ease their own painful symptoms. The
patient is taught how to induce glove anaesthesia (loss of
sensation in the hand) in self hypnosis and this 'anaesthesia'
is then transferred to other parts of the body that require
it. See also Glove Analgesia.
Group Hypnosis -
Refers to the effect perceived that hypnosis of people in
large groups often results in greater depth of success, perhaps
because the members of the group 'feedback' from each other.
Mass hypnosis is a recognised phenomenon. Not normally used
in therapy, which needs to be tailored to specific individuals
but is used at religious and political gatherings to get simple
ideas accepted at the group level.
Galvanometer -
A device which measures the galvanic skin response. This response
is a small change of electrical conductivity of the skin,
due in part to the presence of stress. Used as the basis of
lie detection equipment it is used by some hypno-analysts
to detect areas of conflict and stress as patients recount
their personal history.
Generalization -
A psychological process often uncovered by hypnosis, at the
root of many phobias and neuroses. It is part of the normal
learning function but can lead to error due to unchecked extrapolation.
As a simple example - you are tormented as a child by a bully
with red hair, which leads to the unconscious generalisation
that all persons with red hair are tormentors. Thus you might
feel anxiety in the presence of a red haired person, even
if you have not met them before. It can develop even further
as the colour red itself develops into a stimulus for anxiety
even though it is no longer connected to a person but to some
other object.
Glossolalia -
Where a person 'babbles' or speaks in some unknown tongue,
usually while believing perfect sense is being made. Can be
a symptom of religious hysteria and mental disorder but can
also be made to occur by suggestion in deep hypnosis.
Gnosis -
From the Greek word for knowledge. In clinical hypnosis it
refers to the uncovering of piece of information or personal
experience which enables a dynamic re-evaluation, leading
to rapid improvement, or cessation of presenting problems.
Axial information.
Gynophobia -
Irrational morbid fear of women.
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H
Hallucination -
An hallucination can be described as an experience of one
or more senses which occurs without an external stimulation.
In other words the cause of the sensory activation is internal
and is common in psychosis and drug misuse. The phenomenon
can be evoked in the deeper states of hypnosis and also with
direct electrical stimulation of the brain. Positive hallucination
describes the process of experiencing something that is not
actually present. Negative hallucination describes the process
of not experiencing something that is present.
Hand Clasp Test -
This test of susceptibility is common in stage hypnosis but
little used in therapy.
Quite simply the subject is asked to clasp his hands together
by interlocking the fingers. The hypnotist might then make
suggestions that the hands are sticking together, tighter
and tighter. Eventually the subject is told flatly that his
hands are locked together and he will not be able to separate
them until the hypnotist gives that instruction. If the subject
is unable to part his hands, or has some difficulty in this
act, he is judged to be susceptible to hypnotic suggestion
at that time.
Hematophobia -
Morbid fear of the sight of blood.
Hetero-Hypnosis -
This is simply the process of a hypnotist hypnotising a subject
or subjects, as opposed to self-hypnosis.
Hidden Observer -
An occasional phenomenon experienced in hypnosis in which
a part of the mind seems to watch the proceedings in a detached
and passive way, even though the rest of the body and personality
might be engaged in carrying out some hypnotic suggestion.
Homophobia -
Excessive fear of homosexuals.
Hyperaesthesia -
Vivification of the senses. Can be achieved with hypnosis.
Hypermnesia -
Where amnesia is the partial or total inability to recall
memories, hypermnesia is the opposite, an increase of the
ability to remember.
Hypersuggestibility -
A phenomenon of deep hypnosis characterised by the increase
of suggestibility.
Hypnogogic -
Brief hypnoidal state passed through on the way to natural
sleep.
Hypnoanalysis -
The process of examining the personal history of a patient
using regression, which is facilitated by hypnosis.
Hypnogenic -
Describes something which produces the hypnotic state.
Hypnoidal -
A state characteristic of the light hypnotic state.
Hypnoplasty -
Similar to automatic writing under hypnosis but clay or plastacene
is used by the patient to make images or objects.
Hypnopompic -
Brief hypnoidal state passed through on the way from natural
sleep to wakefulness.
Hypnosis -
The process of obtaining: A special condition of co-operation,
acceptance and partial critical abeyance brought about through
a combination of induction, motivation, expectation and trust.
Results in a hypnotic state.
Hypnotic -
As relating to the process of obtaining a hypnotic state.
Hypnotic Trance -
See 'Trance'.
Clinical hypnosis -
The process of carrying out therapy using hypnosis.
Hypochondria -
Excessive attention to the possibility of ill health, often
manifesting in the belief that it is immanent or present.
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I
Iatrogenic -
Refers to neurotic problems caused in patients unintentionally
during consultation, by words (badly phrased suggestions for
example) or actions.
Ideomotor Response -
Literally a physical response to an idea. Used in hypnosis
for signalling. Typically the index fingers of each hand are
designated 'yes' and 'no' values and the control of these
fingers is passed to the hypnotised patient's subconscious
mind, which then responds to questions by moving the 'Yes'
or 'No' finger.
Implosion Therapy -
Also known as flooding, a practice originating with behaviour
therapy. The patient is exposed to the source of anxiety (for
example) without aversive consequences, until the fear eventually
subsides.
Impotence -
Sexual impotence is the inability of the male to have an erection.
Where this problem has a psychological origin it can be treated
successfully with hypnosis.
Indirect Suggestions –
Also known as permissive suggestion. Refers to the phrasing
of suggestions in such a way as to seem to give a choice to
the patient as to how he reacts. Special attention is given
to the placing of stress on certain words. For example "...If
in a few moments time you would find a particular sensation
in some part of your body, that would be good, a pleasant
sensation, perhaps a gentle warmth or a feeling of relaxed
heaviness..." Here it is indirectly suggested that the
patient will find an internal sensation that will be either
gentle warmth or relaxed heaviness, or perhaps both. As opposed
to Direct (Authoritarian) Suggestion.
Induction -
Hypnotic induction describes the process used in the transition
of the subject from normal waking consciousness into the 'hypnotic
state'.
Insomnia -
Sleeplessness, often due to psychological reasons (stress/anxiety/repressed
emotion). Responds well to treatment by clinical hypnosis.
Introvert -
A term originally coined by C.G.Jung which has passed into
popular parlance to describe an inwardly focused personality
type. As opposed to Extrovert.James, William -
An American (1842 - 1910), One of the fathers of psychology.
Author of 'The Principles of Psychology' which helped to establish
psychology as a science and influence many of the seminal
thinkers of that period.
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J
Janet, Pierre -
French psychiatrist (1859 - 1947), Studied hypnosis with J.
M. Charcot and eventually proposed the 'Theory of Dissociation',
to account for many psychological problems and also the nature
of hypnosis itself.
Jehovah Complex -
Megalomania. Identification with God or supreme being.
Jung, Carl Gustav -
Swiss psychiatrist (1875 -1961), collaborated with Sigmund
Freud (1907 - 1912) to expand the theory of psychoanalysis.
In 1912 he broke from Freud to develop his own significant
branch of psychoanalysis called Analytical Psychology.
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K
Kent-Rosanoff List -
This is a list of words for use in free association which
the authors have thoroughly tested and analysed, especially
the frequency of various responses.
Thus the results of a free association session with the words
on the list can be compared against previous results (taken
from people in different known psychological states). Not
normally used in clinical hypnosis but may have some application
in hypno-analysis.
Kinaesthetic Memory -
Physical memory, of bodily states, positions, movements and
sensations. Used frequently in hypnosis, especially during
induction when bodily states are evoked by suggestion.
Kleptomania -
A kleptomaniac experiences an obsessive compulsion to steal.
Korsakoff's Syndrome -
Refers to the impairment of memory, usually due to alcohol
abuse.
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L
Lachrymal Glands -
The small glands which are responsible for tear production.
They often become active as hypnosis deepens.
Lalophobia –
The irrational fear of speaking.
Latent Time -
The time between stimulus and response. A period often extended
as hypnosis deepens.
Lethargy -
Early term coined by J. M. Charcot for the light or early
stage of hypnosis.
Levitation -
Where a limb is caused to rise by suggestion. Often used in
hypnotic induction and deepening. Useful where the ensuing
therapy employs partial dissociation or glove anaesthesia.
Liminal -
The threshold.
Liminal Sensitivity -
The threshold of sensation. The minimum stimulus required
to cause sensation. Hence, Subliminal - beneath the threshold
of sensation.
Locus of Control -
The place where a person experiences the controlling influence
in their life to
emanate from. A person with an internal locus of control feels
that they control
their life from within themselves and are responsible for
all things that happen to them. A person with an external
locus of control feels that their life is governed by forces
external to them over which they have no real influence.
Lucid Dream -
A dream in which the participant realises that they are dreaming.
Can be evoked by post hypnotic suggestion.
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M
Magnetism –
See Animal Magnetism
Mania -
An energetic state of mental imbalance, characterised by high
excitement.
Manic-depressive -
A mental disorder (psychosis) characterised by alternating
states of high excitement followed by periods of depression.
Now called bipolar depression.
Masochism -
Where pleasure is derived (usually sexual gratification) from
the experience of pain or cruelty.
Mass Hypnosis -
Where a large group of people simultaneously experience a
state of heightened suggestibility and become open to the
experience of hypnotic phenomenon.
Massed Practice -
A technique borrowed from behaviour therapy, where a patient
is encouraged, either in or out of hypnosis, to purposefully
repeat his symptom/s over and over.
A typical use might be for a facial tick. The unconscious
stimulus becomes exhausted (extinct) by the conscious repetition.
Megalomania -
Extreme self importance, self valuation. God complex.
Memory Manipulation -
Under hypnosis memories can be enhanced, removed or even changed.
This facility of hypnosis is often used in therapy.
Mesmer, Franz Anton -
Born in Switzerland (1734 - 1815), became famous / notorious
in Vienna and Paris by his making of cures using 'animal magnetism'
( the forerunner of today's hypnosis). Mesmer theorised that
a subtle fluid permeated space and gathered in living things
and this fluid (which was responsible for health) could be
passed from one being to another, either directly or through
the use of charged objects. He believed he used this fluid
to magnetised patients and cure them. His theory was investigated
by the scientific minds of the day (including Benjamin Franklin)
and discredited. This caused the practice to fall from fashion.
Fortunately many cures had been recorded and so investigation
of his methods continued discretely in many countries. This
research ultimately led to the understanding of the laws of
suggestion and the acceptance of hypnosis as a natural mental
state.
Mesmerism -
The type of 'hypnosis' that was practised by Mesmer and his
followers. Typically theatrical and involving the use of 'hypnotic
passes', where the hands are moved along the shape of the
body as if combing some invisible medium. Still practised
today in eastern countries and in parts of Russia. Making
something of a revival in some parts of America, mainly due
to immigrants bringing these skills with them and the growing
'new age' belief in spiritual healing.
Metaphor -
From the word amphora, which is a vessel designed to carry
or hold something, a metaphor is likewise an image, phrase
or story with an obvious meaning but which carries within
it a secondary meaning. Metaphors are used widely in clinical
hypnosis to pass suggestions to the subconscious mind while
by passing or occupying critical faculties. Typically a short
phrase or story that has more than one meaning and at least
one of the inherent meanings carries a hypnotic suggestion.
A hypnotic metaphor is like a Trojan Horse.
Migraine -
A severe headache, often accompanied by feelings of nausea.
Often preceded by a warning 'aura'. Cases of recurring migraine
can be treated most successfully with hypnosis. Caution must
be exercised to ensure that the patient has had a thorough
check up with a qualified medical practitioner first, in order
to eliminate any possible organic cause.
Monoideism -
Describes a state of fixation on a single thought or topic.
Encountered in hypnosis as concentration increases. Term coined
by James Braid.
Mysophobia -
Excessive fear of dirt.
Mythomania -
Imaginary rationalisation of acts and exaggerations on suggested
themes, often encountered in deep hypnosis.
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N
Nancy School -
Early French school of psychotherapy founded in 1866 by A.
A. Liebeault (in the city of Nancy). Hypnosis played a great
part in the treatment methodology and much research was conducted
into this subject, particularly by H. M. Bernhiem.
Necrophobia -
Abnormal fear of death.
Negative Hallucination -
Not seeing something that is actually there. Often used in
stage hypnosis.
Negativism -
A form of resistance to suggestions. Can be so strong that
the opposite course of action to the one suggested is taken,
(active negativism). Simply refusing to accept suggestions
is termed 'passive negativism'.
Nervous Sleep -
The term coined by J.Braid to describe hypnosis.
Neurodermatitis -
Skin inflammations that have a psychogenic causation.
Neurosis -
A functional problem of entirely psychogenic origin, often
manifesting as maladaptive habit/s. Usually treatable by clinical
hypnosis.
Nightmare -
A dream that arouses great fear and alarm.
Noctambulism -
Sleepwalking.
Nocturnal Enuresis -
Involuntary urination at night. Bedwetting. Common in children
up to 4-5 years of age and is usually grown out of. Treatable
with hypnosis after this time.
Nosophobia -
Excessive fear of disease.
Nyctophobia -
Irrational fear of the night, or darkness.
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O
Obsession -
A persistently recurring idea, compelling and difficult to
put out of mind.
Obsessive Compulsive -
In obsessive compulsive neurosis the patient feels compelled
to carry out the persistently recurring idea. This can take
many forms, such as excessive hand washing (sometimes the
patient feeling the need to wash hands over 100 times per
day) or excessive checking of door locks or clothing etc.
Treatable with hypnosis.
Oneirosis -
An early term for a stage of light hypnosis, similar to hypnogogic
state and characterized by visual imagery. From the Greek
word oneiros, meaning dreams.
Operator -
A name occasionally given to the hypnotist.
Oedipus Complex -
A term coined by Sigmund Freud (from a Greek Myth) to describe
the complex formed in young males through a form of sexual
attraction to the mother, causing jealousy of the father and
resulting in a feeling of conflict and guilt. In the Greek
myth Oedipus killed his father and unknowingly married his
mother.
Onomatomania -
Obsession with words, especially the sound of words. Sometimes
attaching personal meanings to words apart from their usual
definition.
One Trial Learning -
A single occurrence or event that has such a powerful impact
on the individual that it modifies their behaviour from then
onwards. For example, a person becoming violently ill through
drinking too much whisky might be unable thereafter to drink
whisky again.
Operant Conditioning -
A form of learning identified in Behaviourism (B. F. Skinner)
in which a person's behaviour (or any animal's for that matter)
is modified by positive or negative reinforcement (ie., praise
or punishment).
Orgasmaphobia -
Irrational fear of orgasm. Typically that the experience would
be so intense it would cause the sufferer to expire.
Overcompensation -
Conscious or unconscious behaviour designed to make amends
for (or disguise) some (real or imagined) short coming.
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P
Painless Surgery -
It is quite possible to undergo surgery using hypnosis as
the only anaesthetic.
Paradoxical Sleep -
Another name for REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
Paramnesia -
Distorted memories rather than lost memories (as with amnesia).
Paranoia -
Serious mental disorder, typified by absorption in delusions.
No usually amenable to treatment with hypnosis.
Pathophobia -
Excessive fear of suffering through illness.
Pavlov, Ivan P -
Russian Physiologist, (1849 - 1936) Won a Nobel Prize in 1904
for his work on the digestion system. Became well known for
his experiments into conditioning.
Peccatophobia -
Morbid fear of committing a sin.
Peripheral Nervous System -
That part of the total nervous system which connects the sensory
systems of the body to the central nervous system (brain and
spinal cord).
Phobia -
An intense fear or morbid dread. Treatable with hypnosis.
Perls, Fritz -
Born in Germany. Originally a psychoanalyst, he went on to
develop Gestalt Therapy.
Phonophobia -
Irrational fear of speaking aloud.
Photoma -
Optical hallucination, sparks or points of light. Sometimes
reported in hypnosis.
Photophobia -
Dread of strong light, ie., sunlight.
Placebo -
A placebo is usually a medical prescription given with the
idea of producing beneficial results by utilising the patient's
belief that he has been given useful medicine. The placebo
does not have any medical potency of a chemical nature and
relies for it's effect on suggestion. It is sometimes given
as part of an experiment to determine the effectiveness of
a new drug, the group given the
placebo being the control. It is recognised by medical authorities
that as much as 30% of the effectiveness of any particular
drug is due to the placebo effect.
Post Hypnotic -
Literally, after hypnosis. Post hypnotic suggestions for example,
are suggestions given by the hypnotist to the subject to be
carried out later, after the hypnotic session has been terminated.
Postural Sway Test -
A simple test of hypnotic susceptibility. The subject is asked
to stand erect with feet together and eyes closed. He is then
asked to recall a time as a child when he swung back and forth
on a swing. If the subject has good powers of imagination
and concentration he will begin to swing perceptibly back
an forth.
Prestige -
Prestige is valuable to a hypnotist and is the esteem with
which a patient holds his abilities. The hypnotist should
always seek to maintain a smart, professional image in order
to encourage and maintain a sense of prestige.
Psoriasis -
A form of psycho-dermatosis characterised by red scaly patches.
Treatable with hypnosis.
Psychoanalysis -
Developed by Sigmund Freud and his followers. Based on the
idea that neurotic and maladaptive behaviour is caused by
emotional and instinctive energies that become repressed in
the patients unconscious. Therapy takes place when these repressed
elements are brought to consciousness and catharsis takes
place. Usually involves an extensive case history being taken,
along with dream analysis.
Psychodrama -
A technique of working with a group devised originally by
J. L. Moreno, in which members of the gathering 'act out'
their problems as if in real life.
Psychogenic -
Of psychological origin.
Psychosomatic -
Effects in the body originating in the mind.
Psychosis -
Originally coined to describe any mental illness. It now refers
to a serious mental illness which make it difficult for the
patient to function normally within society.
Re: psychotic.Quantum Therapy -
You would normally expect to find the word quantum on the
blackboard in a physics laboratory but it's also forming a
cutting edge concept in therapy.
Advanced researchers like Dr Ernest Rossi are seeking to explore
the postulates of chaos theory as they relate to the 'steady
state' theory of normal psychology.
For example:
The observer and the observed are one.
Reality is observation, there is no reality without observation.
Everything is composed of: Space, Mass, Energy and Time.
Nothing is fixed, everything interpenetrates everything.
Reality is a belief system.
If "form is condensed emptiness" (Albert Einstein),
then what is a thought?
In quantum therapy (as it relates to hypnosis) the therapist
seeks to expand the mind of the patient beyond the bounds
of the habitual framework (context/matrix) which has enabled
the problem to exist. Also the therapist realises that 'reality
is observation' and thus the patient has been maintaining
ongoing symptoms by observing them at a conscious and unconscious
level. This de-labelling process occurs when the patient suddenly
sees things from an alternative point of view.
Typically this involves guided imagery and paradox to transform
everything in the patients world view into energy and then
expand that view point massively to de-personalise it. Momentary
chaos ensues. Finally the patients view point is allowed to
coalesce at a new point, with a different 'point of view'.
(TC)
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Q
Quantum Psychology -
Is a fusion of eastern philosophy, western psychology and
quantum physics.
Questioning -
The method of giving suggestions via the medium of structured
questions. This takes advantage of latent affirmative response,
ie., "Would you like to be more confident?" elicits
a conscious and/or unconscious yes, which affirms the content
of the suggestion at an unconscious level. While the straight
forward, "You are going to feel more confident"
may be denied by the immediate experience of the patient even
though the critical faculty is diminished. (TC)
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R
Rapport -
Describes the feeling of trust, co-operation and acceptance
that can exist between hypnotist and subject. Once rapport
is established susceptibility to suggestion increases greatly.
There are several plausible theories.
The phenomenon may be due to instinctive memory, harking back
to times when humans were influenced by the herd instinct
as a matter of everyday survival. A group leader naturally
emerged under such circumstances which the rest of the group
followed. The subject temporarily allows the hypnotist to
become 'herd leader'.
It may be that in rapport the subjects unconscious mind accepts
the 'likeness' of the hypnotist's conscious mind to it's own
conscious mind, and temporarily allows the conscious mind
of the hypnotist to take the place of its own.
It may be due to Authority Conditioning. From childhood we
are taught the validity of authority and to respect / accept
authority. So rapport may be due to the recognition of the
hypnotist as an authority figure.
It may simply be that once we have developed a certain level
of trust for another person (set aside suspicion of them)
we will allow them to operate within the barrier of our critical
faculties.
There are no doubt be many other theories but there can be
no doubt that the quality of relationship afforded by the
establishment of rapport is a valuable ingredient to successful
hypnosis and clinical hypnosis.
This is not the correct place to examine the ways in which
rapport is established by the hypnotist, as this is quite
an abstract subject but consider the following analogy: If
two tuning forks are placed side by side and one of them is
caused to vibrate the other will quickly begin to vibrate
too. The second fork could be said to be entrained or in rapport.
This happens because the fundamental nature of the tuning
forks are the same and they operate by the same laws. Likewise,
rapport is quickly established between people who are fundamentally
the same or who seem fundamentally the same (on the same wavelength).
The skilful hypnotist must be able to quickly model the subject
and temporarily adopt his world view. Of course, once rapport
is established the hypnotist can then lead the subject into
the process of remodelling themselves and altering their world
view.
Rationalisation -
From a psychological point of view rationalisation is the
process of explaining an action in terms of it's reasonableness.
Usually this is an action that the patient is not particularly
proud of but hopes to diminish feelings of guilt by showing
the act to follow natural logic. Specious excuse.
From a hypnosis point of view rationalisation is where a subject
seeks to explain his actions in hypnosis or post hypnotic
suggestion in a 'reasonable fashion'. For example, a subject
is hypnotised and told that every time the hypnotist claps
his hands the subject will remove his jacket. This suggestion
can be tested several times and each time the subject will
remove his jacket but when asked why he keeps doing this he
will rationalise and say something like, "It keeps getting
warm in here", or "I don't feel comfortable wearing
it."
Reactive Depression -
This is depression caused by a specific identifiable occurrence,
such as the loss of a loved one. Can be treated with hypnosis
but all cases of depression must be approached with caution.
It is wise to seek referral from the patient's doctor.
Reciprocal Inhibition -
A term from behaviour therapy which is defined because of
its use within hypno-desensitisation. Reciprocal inhibition
occurs when an anxiety inducing stimulus in made to happen
at the same time as an anxiety inhibiting response (such as
deep relaxation) then the anxiety inducing stimulus will begin
to lose it's ability to evoke anxiety. For example, if a patient
is made to relax completely while experiencing something that
would normally make them anxious or provoke a phobic reaction,
the ability of that thing to cause a reaction will be diminished.
Regression -
From the point of view of hypnosis, regression is the process
of taking subjects back into their own past to re-experience
memories. Dissociation in time. Some subjects can be regressed
beyond birth and appear to provide information about experiences
in previous lives.
Rehearsal -
The method of obtaining psychological experience by practising
events in imagination as if they were actually occurring.
Useful for goal orientation.
Relaxation -
Removing the will to move (or state of readiness) from the
bodies muscles. Lack of tension, leading to a comfortable
stillness.
REM Sleep-
Rapid Eye Movement sleep, characteristic of the dream state.
Repression -
One of the earliest concepts of psychoanalysis. The theory
is that a psychic function exists which seeks to prevent certain
emotionally charged memories from coming to consciousness
by keeping them deep in the unconscious mind. It is claimed
that these 'repressed memories' are the dynamic source of
neurosis and maladapted behaviour. Whether there is such a
repressing function is open to debate, never the less the
mind does seem to work as if there is. Experience has proven
that unearthing and expressing the energy of these 'imprisoned'
memories can lead to the relief of symptoms.
Resistance -
In hypnosis this refers to the opposition sometimes faced
by hypnotists when trying to induce hypnosis in a subject.
This is usually unconscious resistance due deep rooted fear
or distrust and so can occur even when the subject consciously
desires to be hypnotised. The hypnotists will need to establish
strong rapport and work on the fear first. Every normally
functioning human can be hypnotised.
RAS, Reticular Activating System -
Refers to a part of the brain which functions to govern wakefulness
and sleep.
Retrograde Amnesia -
Inability to recall memories before a certain event. For example
a person might not be able to remember anything that happened
before an accident but can remember everything that has happened
since.
Reverie -
When the mind drifts into daydreams or fantasy.
Revivification -
Literally, to bring back to life or reanimate. Refers to regression
experience where the subject fully re-experiences that time
and adopts all the characteristics of the period. For example
a subject regressed to the age of 5 who is revivifying has
no memory of anything after that age and will speak, act and
think as a five year old.
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S
Salpetriere School -
Salpetriere school of hypnosis. A school of psychopathology
operated by J. M. Charcot, who's views on hypnosis influenced
Sigmund Freud. Charcot believed that hypnosis was due to a
form of hysteria.
Schizophrenia -
A serious mental disorder which affects the sufferers ability
to deal with reality.
Usually ascribed to dissociation, splitting of consciousness.
Script -
In hypnosis this term is usually used to describe a pre-prepared
induction or deepener.
Secondary Gain -
Every cloud has a silver lining! Nobody really wants a problem
but sometimes a problem can have a small advantage attached
to it and it is this advantage that is described by the term
secondary gain. For example, no one wants a painful headache
but it may have the secondary gain benefit of getting some
attention.
Selective Amnesia -
Inability to recall memories about a specific thing. Often
used as a demonstration of hypnotic phenomena where a subject
might be told to forget a number between one and five and
then asked to count the fingers on his hand!
Selective attention -
The natural ability of people to select which incoming information
they will consciously receive. We perceive much more than
we realise but something within us decides what is important
to notice. Normally an unconscious process it can be temporarily
explored consciously. The manipulation of selective attention
is thought to be important to achieving a hypnotic state.
Self Hypnosis -
Where a person enters a hypnotic state under their own guidance,
without using an external hypnotist. Also called auto-hypnosis.
Signalling -
Usually called ideo-motor response signalling (IMR). Where
a small bodily movement is used for communication.
Sitophobia -
Irrational fear of food.
Shyness -
A feeling of unease when receiving attention from others.
Often accompanied by blushing. Usually due to conditioning
and quite treatable with hypnosis.
Sleep Walking -
Also called Somnambulism, see below.
Somnambulism -
Literally sleep walking. Usually occurs in children as a modification
of natural dream sleep. The subject walks in the dream state
and usually has no recollection of it after awakening. In
hypnosis the term refers to a deep trance state in which subjects
can open their eyes and even perform quite complex tasks without
breaking the state. Amnesia and hallucination are possible.
State Dependent Memory -
Refers to memories which are dependent upon the replication
of certain physiological 'contexts' before they can be recalled.
For example, an event that takes place while the subject is
heavily intoxicated or in a state of high emotion might be
forgotten upon return to normality and can be recalled only
when the non ordinary state is re-experienced. To a certain
extent all memory can be said to be state dependent but fortunately
for most people 'normal consciousness' is a steady state.
Stress -
Stress occurs in any organism provoked into making a survival
decision or taking a survival action (be this fight or flight).
So it can be seen that stress is not an unnatural phenomenon
but actually a necessity of survival in much of the animal
kingdom. This survival stress is usually short lived as the
needed action (fight or flight) can be taken and the bodily
state allowed to return to normal. The many chemicals needed
to produce the stress state in the body and brain (to maximise
functionality) can disperse. Alas, due to the complex nature
of the human animal and human society the 'primitive' instincts
to survival action are regularly triggered, but usually without
the availability of a survival response. That is, although
a person often comes under the impulse to fight or flee, either
action is usually inappropriate. Thus stresses build up in
the body and can lead to many kinds of dysfunction if not
successfully controlled or dissipated.
Subconscious -
Mental processes that are not normally conscious, separate
from consciousness. The word is often interchanged loosely
with unconscious.
Subliminal -
This literally means - below the threshold of sensory awareness
Suggestibility -
Defines the extent to which a person will accept a proposal
to be factual. Suggestion -
A proposal made to a person as fact, usually just before or
during the hypnotic state. The purpose of which is usually
to obtain a deeper hypnotic state, increase suggestibility
or obtain some therapeutic change.
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T
Tachycardia -
Rapid heart beat
Tactile induction -
The method of inducing hypnosis by gently stroking the subject's
body, usually the forehead but can be almost any part of the
body. Not often used in therapy these days, it has it's roots
in Mesmerism and animal hypnosis (trout tickling!).
Taphophobia -
Excessive dread of being buried alive.
Thanatophobia -
Morbid fear of death
Tic -
Involuntary muscle spasm, 'twitch', often facial and of psychogenic
origin.
Time Distortion -
Typical hypnotic phenomenon, usually time appearing to have
passed more quickly than usual but also refers to time appearing
to pass slower than usual.
Tinnitus -
A condition where the sufferer hears or appears to hear noises,
typically ringing in the ears. Can be distressing and is amenable
to hypnosis even though it may have physiological or psychological
origins. Usually the 'selective' hearing process has to be
de-tuned.
Toxophobia -
Excessive fear of being poisoned.
Trance -
An often used word in hypnosis which is not too easy to define!
This is exacerbated by the fact that trance is associated
with a wide range of ill defined phenomena ranging from drug
abuse to spirituality to occultism. Never the less 'trance'
as it applies to hypnosis is held to be a natural state which
occurs easily (and frequently) to a person when their attention
is, on the one hand, directed inward - and away from external
sensory experience and on the other hand, narrowed and focused,
usually on the hypnotist's voice. The hypnotic trance seems
to have much in common with the dream state but without the
usual unconsciousness. The deeper the hypnotic trance state
the closer this comparison becomes, especially in regards
to spontaneous amnesia and loss of criticality. Trance is
subjective and difficult to measure but experienced hypnotist's
know to look for certain physical signs to gauge the onset
and depth of the state.
For example you can observe:
Physical stillness
Change of breathing
Pallid / waxen complexion
Gradual postural slumping
Increased body temperature
REM type eye movements
Fluttering eyelids
Swallowing / gulping
Increased lachrymation
Redness around the eyes
Trance induction -
The process of bringing about a 'hypnotic' state, either in
oneself (self hypnosis) or in another (hetero hypnosis).
Transference -
A word that has come to us from psychoanalysis and refers
to the way that patients sometimes 'project' unconscious associations
onto the therapist. For example, patients may come to project
emotional attachments that they cannot feel for a parent onto
the therapist. Usually only a problem when therapy it protracted.
Trauma -
Shock to the person, either physical or psychological or both.
Can have effects
which endure beyond the immediate healing process.
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U
Unconditioned Response -
An original or normal reflex to a stimulus, as opposed to
a conditioned response which is learned behaviour. A dog will
normally salivate when it sees food and so this is an unconditioned
response but with training the dog can be made to salivate
in response to a bell ringing, this is a conditioned response.
Unconscious Mind -
The unconscious mind is a collective term which covers all
the mental processes that are operating outside of immediate
consciousness awareness. This has been likened to the iceberg
metaphor where consciousness is represented by the one seventh
of the berg which stands above the waterline. The seven eighth's
of the berg below the waterline representing the unconscious
mind. Another analogy is the eating process, where eating
represents the conscious processes while digestion, assimilation
are unconscious. There are areas where conscious and unconscious
processes over lap. Breathing is such an example: most of
the time we are unaware (unconscious) of our breathing, especially
during sleep, but it is possible to consciously intercede
and modify our breathing patterns. So it can be seen that
we have unconscious processes that are so 'deep' that we are
never consciously aware of them, while other unconscious processes
are only unconscious because they are not 'in' consciousness,
or temporarily forgotten.
A good example of an unconscious process, as something that
continues even though we are no longer consciously aware of
it, is afforded by the memory. You will no doubt have had
the experience of trying to remember a particular name or
fact but found that you were unable to do so. So you continue
about your normal affairs and might think, or be consciously
aware, of many other things when the name or fact suddenly
'pops' into your mind (consciousness) ‘proving’
that a process has taken place (unconscious search) beyond
your conscious awareness (unconscious).
It is not clear which faculty decides whether a process will
be unconscious or consciously available to us but it does
seem that a 'need to know' rule applies.
Processes that we no longer need to know about (they are not
a danger to us, or we have become so conditioned to them that
the process can be carried out unconsciously) do gradually
pass into the unconscious. Yet it seems that some non conscious
faculty, or element is always vigilant. This is evident at
a large gathering where you are struggling to make yourself
heard and all you might consciously hear is a babble of background
noise from the crowd, but if someone mentions your name you
will suddenly become very conscious of it. Likewise a mother
(until she has become conditioned otherwise) will awaken from
deep sleep if her baby murmurs or moves.
Perhaps the most important fact from a psychological / hypno-therapeutic
point of view is that the unconscious mind is the repository
of memory. Thus therapy is usually a matter of investigating
or modifying or bringing into consciousness some causal dynamic
(usually trauma or false learning) which has become buried
in the unconscious mind.
Psychoanalytic theory posits that there is some form of psychic
filter which keeps 'un-facable' memories connected with unpleasant
events away from consciousness (repressed), hence the difficulty
involved in recovering them. It may be that there is no such
'filter' but repression is simply a continuation of the minds
natural process of 'de-conditioning' memories that are not
often used.
If you require a particular fact (memory) every day it will
become conditioned to appearing in consciousness and will
be readily available for recall. In other words it is valued
as important. A traumatic event is unpleasant an unless repeatedly
bringing it to consciousness brings benefits it will naturally
be 'forgotten' or de-conditioned from consciousness.
Then there is the 'state dependent' theory, that works on
the theory that memories do not exist in isolation but are
a composite of external and internal states. With this theory,
memories are recoverable while the individual is in, or near
to, the external or internal state that they were in during
the original learning experience. As an extreme example a
person who was heavily intoxicated the previous night might
have no memory of events that took place then, but if the
individual returns to the intoxicated state them the memories
can become available. Similarly dreams are easily forgotten
upon awakening (because the state has changed from sleep to
wakefulness) and a way to retrieve them is to return the body
to the exact position it was in on awakening. From this theory
it can be seen that memories might not actually be screened
by a filter but may be unavailable because of the difference
between the physical and mental state at the present moment
and the time at which the event occurred.
Is there a simpler answer?
The unconscious could be said to be everything that we are,
but are not aware of.
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V
Vaginismus -
Involuntary contraction of the muscles of the vagina, usually
of psychogenic causation. Responds well to hypno-analysis
and hypnosis.
Visualisation -
Literally, the process of creating images with the imagination.
Very useful for goal achievement and artificial experience
through rehearsal.
Visual Predilection -
It became recognised in the psychological research of the
1950's that unconscious eye movements often gave evidence
of categories of mental processes or neurological activities.
Studies of these findings by Richard Bandler and John Grinder
eventually developed to become part of the technical knowledge
of Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP). It was recognised that
people generally fall into three groups of cognitive emphasis,
visual - auditory - kinaesthetic. That is, some people's mental
experience is largely visual, others auditory, others kinaesthetic.
These different types may be recognised by observing eye cues
in response to questions.
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W
Waking Hypnosis -
A state of rapport which allows suggestions to be effectively
given to the subject, without the need for formal trance induction.
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X
Xenophobia -
Excessive fear of strangers
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Y
Yes Set -
Refers to an technique outlined by M. Erickson where the conversation
between the therapist and patient is intentionally structured
in such a way that the patient must respond with the word
"yes" (in other words obtaining a positive rather
than a negative response). This sets a positive mood for interaction
and begins the re-framing process.
It is also possible to use the momentum of the repetitive
response to have someone agree to something without full consideration.
Sales people often utilise this technique by asking a series
of innocuous questions for which the answer can only be "yes"
followed quickly a line such as "so you want to buy this
then?" When the unwary will often answer "yes"
without due thought.
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Z
Zoophily -
Condition characterised by an excessive love of animals.
Zoophobia -
Excessive fear of animals.
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