Toni Harrison NEWCA1A 12 Module One Page 1 “What is Hypnosis?” Describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy. Introduction Over the years there have been many assumptions made regarding hypnosis. Beginning with shamanism, which is something I will discuss in the first part of this assignment, leading to modern hypnosis in the life and work of Franz Anton Mesmer. For some people these assumptions remain uncorrected, for others however, they gain a much deeper insight into the fascinating world of hypnosis. This includes the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and also the role of relaxation and its importance within hypnotherapy.
What is Hypnosis? Describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in therapy. What is Hypnosis? Many people don’t really know what hypnosis is. Hypnosis has for years been associated with the mysterious sideshows you may have witnessed where members of the audience are invited to the stage to carry out strange acts following instructions from the ‘hypnotist’.
1.1 Explain the state of hypnosis My understanding is that hypnosis represents an altered state of consciousness, which could also be described as a different state of awareness. I believe that this altered state allows the hypnotherapist to communicate with the subconscious mind. I found out that the earliest evidence of hypnosis was found among shamans, who were also referred to as ‘witch doctors’, ‘medicine men’, and ‘healers’. The Hindus of ancient India used to take their sick to ‘sleep temples’ to be cured by hypnotic suggestion. Hypnotic-like inductions were used to place the individual in a sleep-like state.
Shamanism: An Exploration in the “Technique of Ecstasy” Introduction: The introduction provides a brief overview of shamanism as an ancient practice that is found throughout history and across cultures. This paper will examine traditional forms of shamanism, as well as neo-shamanism, the re-emergence of shamanic practices in contemporary Western culture. Ultimately, this paper argues that shamanistic practices are effective methods of healing developed and utilized as a spiritual path for thousands of years. Working Thesis: Despite the prevailing dismissive and often negative Western scientific attitude toward shamanism, this ancient method of healing is an effective practice that, through a transpersonal experience in which an individual undergoes a change in consciousness, the individual gains access to his or her archetypal, inner resources which results in healing, insight, and self-empowerment. Structure: I.
Around 1450 A.D. the printing press was invented by a German inventor named Johannes Gutenburg. Along with many educational and technical advancements the printing press acquired, unfortunately the introduction of the printing press is somewhat responsible for the popularity of beliefs in superstitions in the Elizabethan time period. The first printed books were bibles or books that contained religious themes; these books endorsed ideas about witches, witchcraft, and other superstitions. These superstitions are mainly due to the fear of supernatural forces and of God. Even though the Elizabethan era is over, superstitions that originated in this specific time period still exist in today’s society.
Franze Anton Mesmer (1734 – 1815) was a keen Astronomer who theorised that there was a natural energetic transference that occurred between all animated and inanimate objects that he called magnétisme animal (animal magnetism). Mesmer developed various methods of healing by use of magnets, believing that illnesses were caused by magnetic fluids in the body becoming out of balance. He used magnets and hypnotic techniques to treat people (the term ‘mesmerised’ comes from his name). Intense discussions on the origin of the phenomena of animal magnetism emerged. They received
Felix-Archimede Pouchet, believed in spontaneous generation and published 700 page book which claimed to prove that the life could originate from inanimate matter, thus life from deity. However, Louis Pasteur, convinced the world that disease were caused by microbes and experimented using a “swan-neck” flask, performed at many different environments in different locations, successfully disproved spontaneous generation (creationism) and later his theory became a great influence on modern medicine and public health. Kahn also tried to clarify the difference between creationism and evolution, both based on our religious preference and scientific perspective, and evidence to support both sides of argument. Creationism supports the great creator for existence of this world, from the power of deity and this idea became religious beliefs for many generations for different people. She argues that a scientific theory requires collection of data and
Timothy Leary vs. Daniel Quinn On October 22, 1920, Timothy Leary was born. In 1960 he became a psychologist and writer and kept this occupation throughout the sixties; he was most known, however, for advocating psychedelic drugs like LSD. He believed LSD to show therapeutic potential for use in psychiatry and marriage counseling. He made catchphrases popular that promoted his philosophy such as his most famous, "turn on, tune in, drop out". He also encouraged questioning of authority and wrote and spoke frequently about transhumanist concepts.
James Braid believes in this state, people are highly suggestible. In the origical script stated the phrase “… focus your attentions” Suggestion theory was used in the original script. Patients able to enter trance and noted hypnosis was simply a state of mind that was induced in one person by another and mainly caused by the therapist’s power of suggestion
18-19). These early hospitals provided shelter, food and aid to the sick and infirm, under the direction of the local priests and physicians. While the art of nursing was practiced during this time, it was also a time of great superstition and cruelty, with illness being attributed to evil spirits and witchcraft, often resulting in the barbaric treatment of the ill and mentally disturbed (Funnell Koutoukidis Lawrence 2010, pp 4-5). It was during the nineteenth century, that progress was made in the field of medicine and a more complex understanding of disease and ill health was formed (Funnell Koutoukidis Lawrence 2010 p5). Due to the patriarchal structure and gender bias of the time, the science of medicine was considered solely a male field of expertise.