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Stage hypnosis Stage hypnosis is hypnosis performed in front of an audience for the purposes of entertainment, usually in a theatre or club. A modern stage hypnosis performance typically delivers a comedic show rather than simply a demonstration to impress an audience with powers of persuasion. Apparent effects of amnesia, mood altering and hallucination may be demonstrated in a normal presentation. Stage hypnosis performances often encourage audience to look further into the benefits of hypnotism.[1] The causes of behaviour exhibited by volunteers in stage hypnosis shows is an area of dispute. Some claim it illustrates altered states of consciousness (i.e., "hypnotic trance"). Others maintain that it can be explained by a combination of psychological factors observed in group settings such as disorientation, compliance, peer pressure, and ordinary suggestion. Others yet allege that deception plays a part.
Contents 1
History 1.1 20th century
2
Skepticism
3
Role of deception
4
Role of hypnotist and subject 4.1 Hypnotist 4.2 Subjects
5
Law
6
References
7
Further reading
History Stage hypnosis evolved out of much older shows conducted by Mesmerists and other performers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Scottish surgeon James Braid developed his technique of hypnosis after witnessing a stage performance by the travelling Swiss magnetic demonstrator Charles Lafontaine (1803–1892) in November 1841.[2][3][4] Braid was well aware of similar performances by "electro-biologists" in his day;[5] e.g., Braid published the contents of an advertising hand-bill for an "electro-biology" performance by a visiting American, George W. Stone,[6] on 12 March 1851, which, as well as clearly emphasising that Stone was claiming to use volunteers from the audience, rather than his own stooges/assistants, details some of the phenomena that Stone's audience might have expected to have displayed to them. Persons in a perfectly wakeful state, of well-known character and standing in society, who come forward voluntarily from among the audience, will be experimented upon. They will be deprived of the power of speech, hearing, sight. Their voluntary motions will be completely controlled, so that, they can neither rise up nor sit down, except at the will of the operator; their memory will be taken away, so that they will forget their own name and that of their most intimate friends; they will be made to stammer, and to feel pain in any part of their body at the option of the operator – a walking stick will be made to appear a snake, the
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taste of water will be changed to vinegar, honey, coffee, milk, brandy, wormwood, lemonade, etc., etc., etc. These extraordinary experiments are really and truly performed without the aid of trick, collusion, or deception, in the slightest possible degree.[7]
These are identical to many of the demonstrations which became central to subsequent "stage hypnosis", in fact it seems that little changes except the name and the introduction of the hypnotic induction, etc. Likewise, the novelist Mark Twain similarly recounts a Mesmeric performance which clearly resembles 20th century stage hypnosis, in his autobiography. The absence of any reference to "hypnotism" in these early performances, indeed before the term was coined, and the fact that they often lacked anything resembling a modern hypnotic induction is consistent with the skeptical view, that stage hypnosis is primarily the result of ordinary suggestion rather than hypnotic trance. Indeed, early performers often claimed that they were influencing their subjects by means of telepathy and other supernatural powers. Others, however, were delivering performances that displayed the wide range of hypnotic manifestations to their audiences. In the United States, for example, in the 1890s, there was a small group of highly skilled stage hypnotists, all whom were managed by Thomas F. Adkin, who toured country-wide, playing to packed houses. Adkin's group included Sylvain A. Lee,[8] Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Flint,[9] and Professor Xenophon LaMotte Sage.[10]
20th century Throughout the 20th century, despite adopting the term "hypnotism", stage hypnotists continued to explain their performances to audiences by reference to supernatural powers and animal magnetism. Ormond McGill, e.g., in his Encyclopedia of the subject wrote in 1996 that: Some have called this powerful transmission of thought from one person to another "thought projection". The mental energy used appears to be of two types: magnetic energy ... generated within the body and telepathic energy generated within the mind. ... The two work together as a unit in applying Power Hypnosis. The operation of the two energies in combination is what Mesmer referred to as "animal magnetism".[11]
However, this is not what Braid meant by "hypnotism", a term coined in opposition to theories of Mesmerism, to stress the fact that the results were due to ordinary psychological and physiological processes, such as suggestion and focused attention, rather than telepathy or animal magnetism. Indeed, after meeting with Mr. Stone, experimenting with his own subjects, and presenting his findings on such performances to the Royal Institution, Braid concludes, There is, therefore, both positive and negative proof in favour of my mental and suggestive theory, and in opposition to the magnetic, occult, or electric theories of the Mesmerists and electro-biologists. My theory, moreover, has this additional recommendation, that it is level to our comprehension, and adequate to for all which is demonstrably true, without offering any violence to reason and common sense, or being at variance with generally itted physiological and psychological principles.[12]
However, modern stage performers often continue to misuse the word "hypnosis" in describing their shows and encourage misconceptions about hypnotism by confusing it with Mesmerism for dramatic effect.
Skepticism
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Mesmeric and other stage performances changed their names to "stage hypnotist" in the 19th century. They had originally claimed to produce the same effects by means of telepathy and animal magnetism, and only later began to explain their shows in of hypnotic trance and suggestion. Hence, many of the precursors of stage hypnosis did not employ hypnotic induction techniques. Moreover, several modern stage performers have themselves published criticisms which suggest that stage hypnosis is largely the result of sleight of hand, ordinary suggestion, and social
Catalepsy: "the human bridge".
compliance, etc., rather than hypnotic trance. Most notably, the wellknown American magician and performer, Kreskin, has frequently carried out typical stage hypnosis demonstrations without using any hypnotic induction. After working as a stage hypnotist and magician for nearly two decades, Kreskin became a skeptic and a whistleblower from within the stage hypnosis field. For nineteen years I had believed in ... the sleeplike "hypnotic trance," practicing it constantly. Though I had nagging doubts at times, I wanted to believe in it. There was an overpowering mystique about putting someone to sleep, something that set me and all other "hypnotists" apart. We were marvellous Svengalis or Dr. Mesmers, engaged in a supernatural practice of sorts. Then it all collapsed. For me anyway.[13]
After experimenting with his own subjects for several years until he was satisfied he could perform "stage hypnosis" without any hypnotic induction or trance, he concluded, "The battle of semantics may be waged for years, but I firmly believe that what is termed 'hypnosis' is, again, a completely normal, not abnormal, response to simple suggestion." An outspoken skeptic regarding stage hypnosis, Kreskin not only actively debunked stage hypnotists' claims, but went so far as to offer a substantial monetary reward, $25,000, to anyone who could prove the existence of hypnotic trance. The reward has been unsuccessfully challenged three times.[14] While debunking the "sleep-trance" concept, Kreskin, like other skeptics adopting the nonstate position, was keen to emphasise that he felt the value of hypnotic suggestion had been frequently underestimated. British stage hypnotist, Alex Tsander, has made a rejection of belief in a "state of hypnosis" a central feature of his career.[15] Tsander, who was among 39 parties consulted by the UK Home Office during their 1995-96 review of the regulation of performance,[16] whilst continuing to perform, since 1993, also promoted a sceptical, social psychological view in a series of books. In "The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism"
[17]
he stressed a terminological distinction
between "hypnotism" and "hypnosis", stating that "hypnotism is the art of creating the illusion of hypnosis". Tsander calls his show "I Can't Believe It's NOT Hypnosis",[18] a title since adopted by others. Tsander boldly states in publicity that no participant is ever in a "state of hypnosis". He argues, in "Beyond Hypnosis",[19] that all activities that use hypnotic protocols, such as in hypnotherapy, are based in the cultural influence of roles and schemas of what it is to be hypnotised, ultimately created and sustained through the impressions made by stage hypnotists, manipulating social psychological factors. As an extreme illustration of this, Tsander has used the example of Milton Erickson. Whilst Erickson objected to stage hypnotism, Tsander argued, in "Beyond Erickson" [20] that the therapists reputation largely depended upon live demonstrations and that he was in effect a stage hypnotist. He takes Erickson's own s of his demonstrations and explains them in of normal, social psychological processes and interactions, requiring no special phenomenon or hypnosis to explain. Tsander's actions have been counter critiqued to the effect that he: "...has repeatedly tried to show that "the human bridge" phenomena created by stage hypnotists is easily done without hypnosis. However the photos of his examples always show under the shoulders whereas stage hypnotists had only the head ed. Perhaps this is why his books and articles have received little circulation, interest or comment".[21] However, if we look at the classic archive image shown above we indeed see spanning the top of the shoulders. To do otherwise is feasible but foolish, risking injury resulting from pressure accentuated by moment of angle from the length of the body ed. Indeed, as Tsander himself emphasises, in the UK under the 1996 Model Conditions,[22] the routine, when entailing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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weight placed upon the volunteer, is altogether forbidden for reason of physical hazard. Moreover, invariably this mode of is the case in all available images of the supposed "feat" currently published online including videos. The majority indeed show s placed lower than this (closer together) as examples illustrate.[23][24][25] By contrast if we look at one of Tsanders examples[26] we see the s placed actually further apart with a nonhypnotised volunteer than in those supposedly hypnotised and demonstrating "catalepsy".[27] The need felt by such commentors to adduce ad hominem (see above quote) appears to indicate argument on the basis of emotion rather than substance. The onus to provide evidence rests with those who claim that the "feat" represents a supra-normal result. Their potential argument that any given instance is a "bad" example begs the question as to where a perfect instance can be found. Another sceptic is Mark Lewis, magician and hypnotist who stated quite openly in his book, "Introduction to Stage Hypnosis" that he did not believe in the trance state phenomena. He stated that what happens on stage is a combination of social compliance, suggestibility and self-delusion.
Role of deception Due to stage hypnotists' showmanship, many people believe that hypnosis is a form of mind control. However, the effects of stage hypnosis are probably due to a combination of relatively ordinary social psychological factors such as peer pressure, social compliance, participant selection, ordinary suggestibility, and some amount of physical manipulation, stagecraft, and trickery.[28] The desire to be the centre of attention, having an excuse to violate their own inner fear suppressors and the pressure to please are thought to convince subjects to "play along".[29] Books written by stage hypnotists sometimes explicitly describe the use of deception in their acts. For example, Ormond McGill's New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis describes an entire "fake hypnosis" act which depends upon the use of private whispers throughout: [The hypnotist whispers off-microphone:] "We are going to have some good laughs on the audience and fool them ... so when I tell you to do some funny things, do exactly as I secretly tell you. Okay? Swell." (Then deliberately wink at the spectator in a friendly fashion.)[30]
According to experts such as Theodore X. Barber and André Muller Weitzenhoffer, stage hypnosis traditionally employs three fundamental strategies: 1. Participant compliance. Participants on stage tend to be compliant because of the social pressure felt in the situation constructed on stage, before an expectant audience. 2. Participant selection. Preliminary suggestion tests, such as asking the audience to clasp their hands and suggesting they cannot be separated, are usually used to select out the most suggestible and socially compliant subjects from the audience. By asking for volunteers to mount the stage, the performer also tends to select the most extraverted of the audience. 3. Deception of the audience. Stage hypnotists are performers who traditionally, but not always, employ a variety of "sleight of hand" strategies to mislead their audience for dramatic effect. The strategies of deception employed in traditional stage hypnosis can be categorised as follows: 1. Off-microphone whispers. The hypnotist lowers his microphone and whispers secret instructions to the participant on stage, outside the audience's hearing. These may involve requests to "play along" or fake hypnotic responses.[31] 2. Failure to challenge. The stage hypnotist pretends to challenge subjects to defy a suggestion, for example, "You cannot stand up out of your chair because your backside is stuck down with glue." However, no specific cue is given to the participants to begin their effort ("Start trying now!"). This creates the illusion that a specific challenge has been issued and effort made to defy it.[31] 3. Fake hypnosis tricks. Stage hypnosis literature contains a large repertoire of sleight of hand tricks, of the kind used by professional illusionists. None of these tricks require any hypnosis or suggestion, but depend purely on physical manipulation and audience deception. The most famous example of this type is the "human plank" trick, which involves making a subject's body become rigid (cataleptic) and suspending them horizontally between two chairs, at which point the hypnotist will often stand upon their chest for dramatic effect. This has nothing to do with hypnosis, but simply depends on the fact that when subjects are positioned in the correct way they can more weight than the audience tends to assume.[31] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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4. Stooges. Several experts, including Kreskin, have stated that stage hypnotists have been known to make use of stooges (also called horses) who travel from show to show. A stage hypnotist may only require a single stooge because by using him first for each demonstration real subjects from the audience will tend to follow his lead and imitate his responses. Moreover, for the climax of the show, the hypnotist will often focus on one or two subjects to demonstrate more difficult and dramatic responses involving apparent hallucinatory experiences. A single stooge can be used for this purpose.[32][33] Weitzenhoffer writes: Having not only had a chance to watch famous stage hypnotists of the 1940s and 50s such as [Ralph] Slater[34] and Polgar at work but having also had a chance to have fairly extensive personal with other stage hypnotists, I believe I can throw some light upon the situation. To begin with, one should be aware that many stage hypnotists use stooges or plants.[33]
However Alex Tsander argues
[35]
that use of a stooge has in modern times been for all practical purposes
inconceivable because of the frequency of their reappearance in different performances (sometimes repeatedly at the same venue) and the dire consequences of being discovered. A likelihood increased by the Internet, social media and camera-phones in the audience. Whilst denying the existence of a "state of hypnosis", Tsander has since the early 1990s presented "close up" sessions in which volunteers sit with him at a table whilst the audience sit or stand adjacent. An audience in close proximity makes the kind of subterfuge mentioned above, such as stage whispers, impossible. For Tsander, coupled with his denying a state of hypnosis, this demonstrates that social psychology and suggestion offer sufficient explanation for all hypnotic effects. Under favourable circumstances neither "hypnosis" nor deception is necessary to obtain even the most theatrical behaviour from suitable volunteers.[36] On the other hand, those who argue for a substantial "state" of hypnosis cite clinical claims (not actually evidenced in any case of stage performance, one hopes) such as the following: "...editorial implying most subjects have no will or interest in not following the suggestion of the hypnotist, conveniently omit the primary interest in hypnotism came in the early 1800's before ether and morphine were widely available. Thousands of extremely painful operations were performed through the use of hypnosis. Patients awoke without memory of the surgery and even healed much faster than those who endured the extreme pain without hypnosis. Sigmund Freud was directly responsible for removing hypnosis from psychotherapy because of so many reports that patients also had intuitions about conditions of patients they had never met while in the trance state."[37] Such arguments originate in the work of James Esdaile at a medical mission in India, recounted in his book of 1847. This was before the concept of "hypnotism" (only recently promoted by Braid, 1843)had spread and Esdailes work was still referred to as "Mesmerism". Whilst Esdaile claimed his patients felt no pain observers on behalf of an independent commission of enquiry for the Bengal government reported scenes of those undergoing such operations writhing in agony. Regarding more recent claims of painless surgery, T.X.Barber, among others has pointed out that detail in s of such surgery it that patients are, even though not unconscious, rendered stuporous by cocktails of anxiolytics. Moreover, the proportion of patients capable of undergoing such procedures (attaining sufficiently "deep" "hypnosis") is as small as the percentage of the population who are capable of undergoing surgery with neither chemical nor hypnotic assistance, inviting the suspicion that these groups of "special" patients overlap. Moreover, Barber also points out that invariably, cases of hypnotic surgery do use local anaesthetic at the area of incision, whilst internal organs are not capable of ing pain in response to a skilled cut rendering many such operations feasible without general anaesthetic, the role of hypnotic influence being essentially at an emotional or anxiolytic level. Furthermore, far from there being "thousands" of such cases of hypno-anaesthesia in surgery it remains sufficiently rare as to warrant the attention of news reports when it occurs. As rare, indeed, as the exceptional individuals able to undergo such surgery.
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However, none of the foregoing debate about hypnotic procedures in a clinical setting has any bearing upon stage hypnosis.
Role of hypnotist and subject Hypnotist Due to stage hypnotists' showmanship and their perpetuating the illusion of possessing mysterious abilities, the appearance of a trance state is often seen as caused by the hypnotist's power. The real power of stage hypnosis comes from the trust the "hypnotist" can instill in their subjects. Subjects have to cooperate and be willing to follow instructions and the hypnotist will employ several tests to choose the best subjects. Some people are very trusting, or even looking for an excuse to abdicate their responsibilities and are apparently able to be "hypnotised" within seconds, while others take more time to counter their fears.
A stage hypnotist and his subjects
Suggestion is very powerful and a good hypnotist will know how to deliver suggestions that can create better entertainment for the audience. In his book Deeper and Deeper by Jonathan Chase,[38] he talks about delivering suggestion, more importantly, The Super Suggestion a phrase he coined in his first published book in 1999 "From this moment everything I say to you. Every single thing I say, no matter how silly or stupid it seems will instantly become your reality. Everything I say will instantly become your reality."
He emphasises the use of repetition but warns that when they have accepted the suggestion then everything that the hypnotist says to them after this point will become an irresistible suggestion. Historically, stage hypnotists often made claims for hypnotically induced enhancements to volunteer abilities beyond normal limits. One such routine that persists is that of "The Human Bridge". The English hypnotist Alex Tsander has made a particular theme of taking this cliché routine, which is still touted by many hypnotists as a uniquely hypnotic "feat", and de-bunking it by demonstrating that no hypnosis is required. He does this in studio videos with nonhypnotised volunteers, both models and himself, talking to camera. Whilst emphasising that no weight should ever be placed on a person in that situation (which is specifically forbidden in public UK performances under the Model Conditions) he explains in "The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism" [39] how performers elsewhere deceive audiences when doing so. At the Kit Kat club, Berlin, in 2012, whilst appearing as himself, Tsander also performed as "Erektor The Bridgebuilder" presenting "Bridgeward Bound",[40] an erotic bondage version of the Human Bridge with a female co-performer, that dramatically fore-grounded the fact that the "feat" requires no hypnosis, which was neither induced nor pretended.
Subjects In a stage hypnosis situation the "hypnotist" chooses their participants carefully. First they give the entire audience a few exercises to perform and plant ideas in their minds, such as: only intelligent people can be hypnotised only those who are open-minded to being hypnotised and willing to participate.
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It has been alleged that these suggestions are designed to overcome the natural fear of trusting a stranger with the greater fear of becoming an object of ridicule as one who is unintelligent, unsociable, and joyless. However, whilst a self-proclaimed "sceptic", British stage hypnotist Alex Tsander argues that a more important reason for such onitions is to filter out "pseudo-volunteers": those who only offer to participate in order to prove that they are as they see it "too intelligent" to respond, or who want to show that they can resist becoming hypnotised, with no intention to genuinely cooperate in achieving a positive result. Tsander advises that a hypnotist should state clearly at the outset that "anyone can resist being hypnotised, so to do so will prove nothing."[17] Out of the crowd the hypnotist will spot people who appear trusting, extroverted and willing to put on a show. The hypnotist starts them off by having them imagine ordinary situations that they have likely encountered, like being cold or hot, hungry or thirsty then gradually builds to giving them a suggestion to do something that is totally out of character, such as tap dancing, singing like Elvis or clucking like a chicken. The desire to be the centre of attention, having an excuse to violate their own inner fear suppressors and the pressure to please, plus the expectation of the audience wanting them to provide some entertainment is usually enough to persuade an extrovert to do almost anything. In other words, the participants are persuaded to 'play along'. Yet, whilst this s for some situations, it does not accord with those where hecklers, uncooperative audiences and those who wish to "disprove" the hypnotist create a set of negative expectations, uncooperative atmosphere and opposition which the performer must use skill to overcome.
Law In some countries, there are laws and guidelines regarding stage hypnosis. In the UK, the Hypnotism Act 1952 governs the use of hypnosis in public. The original Act was amended in 1976 and again in 2003.[41] In 1996 the government released "model conditions" which were refined and revised after consultation with FESH and with medical and academic psychologists. Note that these have no legal force: they are suggested conditions which local authorities may or may not feel appropriate to impose or modify when regulating hypnosis.[42] If stage hypnosis is performed at a public venue a permit (permission) must be acquired from the local authority and the local authority is advised to monitor the performance to ensure that all guidelines are followed. It is illegal to hold any form of stage hypnosis in a public venue (amongst other venues) unless the local authority has issued their consent for this. In the accompanying circular announcing the revised model conditions in 1996[43] it was conceded that, as asserted by skeptical stage hypnotist Alex Tsander during the consultation process: "In practice volunteers do not react as if they truly believe that there is, for example, a giant spider behind them or a bomb under their chair."[44] This was a critical point of distinction and represents a formal recognition of the "as if" nature of behaviour in stage hypnotism in contradistinction to claims for its supposed subjective reality. In the past, stage hypnosis has been banned in several countries in the world including Denmark and some states in the USA. Today, the only country to enforce a law against hypnosis is Israel, where it is illegal to perform any kind of hypnosis without a license given to doctors, dentists and psychologists.
References 1. Lennis G. Echterling & Jonathon Whalen (1995). "Stage hypnosis and public lecture effects on attitudes and beliefs regarding hypnosis". American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. 38 (1): 13–21. doi:10.1080/00029157.1995.10403173 (https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00029157.1995.10403173).
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2. "Magnetic demonstrator" – Gauld's term (Gauld, 1992, p. 204) – accurately describes Lafontaine; because whilst he was in the U.K., he only demonstrated "magnetic" phenomena; he never used it to treat anyone at any time (in public or private). 3. Braid always maintained that he had gone to Lafontaine's demonstration as an open-minded sceptic, eager to examine the evidence and, then, form a considered opinion of Lafontaine's work. He was neither a closed-minded cynic intent on destroying Lafontaine, nor a deluded and naïvely credulous believer seeking authorisation of his already formed belief (Neurypnology (1843), p.2. 4. For an extended of the interactions between Braid and Lafontaine, see Yeates (2013), pp.103–308 im. 5. "Electrobiology: A mode of inducing hypnotism by having the subject look steadily at metallic disks. The process originated about the middle of the nineteenth century, and its fame was spread by numerous lecturers in England and the United States.", Melton, J.G. [2001] (ed), Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology (Fifth Edition), in Two Volumes, Volume 1 (A-L), Thomson Gale, (Farmington Hills), 2001, p.489. 6. Stone was the compiler and editor of The Philosophy of Electro-Biology, or Electrical Psychology, in a Course of Nine Lectures, Delivered by J. B. Dods, before the United States Senate, at Washington, in 1850, etc (https://ia60 0306.us.archive.org/9/items/philosophyelect00stongoog/philosophyelect00stongoog.pdf). Stone was also involved, for a time, in the active promotion the medium, Maria Basheba Hayden (1826–1883), the wife of his close friend, William Richardson Hayden, M.D. (1820–1903), journalist, and editor of The Boston Atlas, and a monthly newsletter called The Star Spangled Banner. Maria Hayden, who graduated M.D. in 1865, also assisted Augustus De Morgan in his paranormal investigations. 7. Braid's quote is at p.512 of Braid, J., "Electro-Biological Phenomena Physiologically and Psychologically Considered, by James Braid, M.R.C.S. Edinburgh, &c. &c. (Lecture delivered at the Royal Institution, Manchester, March 26, 1851)", The Monthly Journal of Medical Science, Vol.12, (June 1851), pp. 511–530. (https://books.goog le.com/books?id=WjwCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA511#v=onepage&q=&f=false) 8. Author of The Practice of Hypnotic Suggestion (1901). One of his specialties was hypnotising per medium of the telephone; poster at [1] (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?pp/PPALL:@field(NUMBER+@band(var+0467))) [2] (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?pp/PPALL:@field(NUMBER+@band(var+2023))) 9. Herbert L. Flint was the author of Flint's lessons in hypnotism; a comprehensive work on scientific suggestion as applied in hypnotism, mesmerism, personal magnetism, magnetic healing, psycho-therapeutics, suggestive therapeutics and similar manefestations of mental development and control (1915); poster at [3] (http://hdl.loc.go v/loc.pnp/var.1617) 10. Author of Hypnotism as It Is: a Book for Everybody (1897). Xenophon LaMotte Sage was the stage name of E. Virgil Neal; see Conroy, (2009), im, especially pp. 27–40. 11. Ormond McGill, The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis, 1996: 24 12. Braid, J. (1851). Electro-Biological Phenomena, etc., p.530. 13. Kreskin, The Amazing World of Kreskin, 1973: 143. 14. Kreskin, The Amazing World of Kreskin, 1973: 152 15. Rider, D. 1995. "Playing Those Mind Games", Bath Chronicle, "Night Time" supplement, W/E March 8th 16. Dipple, D. 1996. UK Home Office circular No 39/1996 p. 2, para. 7 17. Tsander, A. 2006, 2012. The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism. Summitother. ISBN 0955073162 18. Royle, J. 2005. Confessions of A Hypnotist: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hypnosis But Were Afraid To Ask. Xlibris Corporation. P450. 19. Tsander, A. 2005. Beyond Hypnosis: Hypnotism, Stage Hypnotism and The Myth of "Hypnosis", Summitother, ISBN 0955073189 20. Tsander, A. 2005. Beyond Erickson: A Fresh Look at "The Emperor of Hypnosis", Summitother. ISBN 0955073103 21. Anon. 2016. Edit made as quoted to this wiki by a contributor. 22. Dipple, D. 1996. UK Home Office. Circular No 39/1996. 23. Greenoasis. 2016. Visual reference No 2. Accessed online at:http://img11.deviantart.net/546b/i/2013/361/d/c/catalepsy_23_by_greenoasisfan-d6zng70.png 24. Greenoasisfan. 2016. Visual reference No 3. Accessed online at: http://img04.deviantart.net/16b6/i/2013/226/3/6/catalepsy_14_by_greenoasisfan-d6i42zn.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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25. Lexlucas. 2016. Visual reference No 4. Accessed online at: http://img15.deviantart.net/849a/i/2014/149/d/b/simone2_136_stiff_as_steel_by_lexlucas-d7k7bd6.jpg 26. Flickr. 2016. Accessed online at: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5143/5554431351_fc50c2d282_b_d.jpg 27. See visual references 2, 3 and 4, above. 28. Yapko, Michael (1990). Trancework: An introduction to the practice of Clinical Hypnosis. New York, New York: Brunner/Mazel. p. 28. 29. Wagstaff, Graham F. (1981) Hypnosis, Compliance and Belief, St. Martin's Press, New York. ISBN 0-312-40157-4 30. McGill, Ormond. (1996) The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis, p. 506. 31. Barber, Spanos & Chaves. Hypnotism: Imagination & Human Potentialities (1974), p. 105. 32. Kreskin. The Amazing World of Kreskin (1973), p. 149. 33. Weitznehoffer, Andre. The Practice of Hypnotism (2000), p. 400. 34. Real name Joseph Bolsky (see [4] (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.198933960176777.46878.18412 0231658150&type=3) ("Dr. Wilbur" is Cornelia B. Wilbur), and [5] (http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-co urts/F2/192/308/210802)). 35. Tsander, A. 2006,2012. The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism, Summitother. ISBN 0955073162 36. Tsander, A. Visual Reference, 1.Accessed online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/16196214@N07/1753544748/in/album-721576027209907589/ 37. Anon. 2016. Edit to this Wiki as quoted. 38. Chase, Jonathan (2005) Deeper and Deeper the secrets of stage hypnosis - p. 101 39. Tsander, A. 2005, 2012. The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism. Summitother. ISBN 0955073162 40. Residentadvisor. 2012. Wasteland Berlin. Accessed online at: https://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?395975 41. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/changes/affected/ukpga/1952/46 42. http://www.fesh.co.uk/Law.htm 43. Dipple, D. 1996. UK Home Office circular No39/1996 44. Dipple, 1996, p6, sub-section "Previous Section 3(I)(Vi).
Further reading Braid, J., Neurypnology or the Rationale of Nervous Sleep Considered in Relation with Animal Magnetism Illustrated by Numerous Cases of its Successful Application in the Relief and Cure of Disease, John Churchill, (London), 1843. (https://archive.org/details/neurypnologyorr00braigoog) N.B. Braid's Errata, detailing a number of important corrections that need to be made to the foregoing text, is on the un-numbered page following p.265. (https://archive.org/stream/neurypnologyorr00braigoog#page/n292/ mode/1up) Brandon, Joan, "Successful Hypnotism" Stravon Publishers (1956) ASIN B000JD0XS2 Brandon, Joan,"The Art of Hypnotism" Fawcett How-To Book. Publisher: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1956 Brandon, Joan, "Science Of Self-Hypnosis" Publisher: Joan Brandon, Brandon Enterprises, 1959 Emery, Carla (1998). "Secret, Don’t Tell: The Encyclopedia of Hypnotism" (http://www.secretdonttell.com). Acorn Hill Publishing. ISBN 9780965993036 Conroy, M.S., The Cosmetics Baron You've Never Heard Of: E. Virgil Neal and Tokalon (Second, Revised Edition), Altus History LLC, (Englewood), 2012. ISBN 0-9826314-7-2 [6] (https://www.amazon.com/Cosmetics-Bar on-Youve-Never-Heard/dp/0982631472) Crawford, H.J., Kitner-Triolo, M., Clarke, S.W. & Olesko, B., "Transient Positive and Negative Experiences Accompanying Stage Hypnosis", Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol.101, No.4, (November 1992), pp. 663– 667. Echterling, L.G. & Emmerling, D.A., "Impact of Stage Hypnosis", American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Vol.29, No.3, (January 1987), pp. 149–154. [plus editorial comment, see Mott, T., pp. 147–148.] Gauld, A., A History of Hypnotism, Cambridge University Press, 1992.[7] (https://books.google.com/books?id=XZ 5xJq7qovMC&lpg=PP1&dq=History%20of%20Hypnotism&pg=PA279#v=onepage&q=&f=false) Harling I.G., Nyrup M.A., "Mischief - Radical Hypnosis & Mind-Control", Spellbound Books, 2010 ISBN 978-87990481-2-0 - 'Mischief' is the author's previous books, 'Sleight of Mind' & 'Geist' in one title. Heap, M., "The Alleged Dangers of Stage Hypnosis", Contemporary Hypnosis, Vol.17, No.3, (September 2000), p. 117–126. (http://asociatiaromanadehipnoza.ro/wp-content/s/2013/10/THE-ALLEGED-DANGERS-OF-ST AGE-HYPNOSIS.pdf) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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McGill, O., Professional Stage Hypnotism, Westwood Publishing Co., (Los Angeles), 1977. McGill, O., The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism, Anglo American Book Company, (St. Clears), 1996. Meeker, W.B. & Barber, T.X., "Toward An Explanation Of Stage Hypnosis", Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol.77, No.1, (1971), pp. 61–70. Nadis, F., "Of Horses, Planks, and Window Sleepers: Stage Hypnotism Meets Reform, 1836–1920", Journal of Medical Humanities, Vol.22, No.3, (Fall 2001), p. 223–245. Yeates, L.B., James Braid: Surgeon, Gentleman Scientist, and Hypnotist, Ph.D. Dissertation, School of History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, January 2013. (htt p://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:11299/SOURCE01) Christopher Caress "Sleep Easy", An inside look into the world of Stage Hypnosis with a modern approach No.1, 2011 Christopher Caress "Hypno Tricks", No.1, 2010 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stage_hypnosis&oldid=805305710" This page was last edited on 14 October 2017, at 13:48. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional may apply. By using this site, you agree to the of Use and . Wikipedia® is a ed trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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Stage hypnosis Stage hypnosis is hypnosis performed in front of an audience for the purposes of entertainment, usually in a theatre or club. A modern stage hypnosis performance typically delivers a comedic show rather than simply a demonstration to impress an audience with powers of persuasion. Apparent effects of amnesia, mood altering and hallucination may be demonstrated in a normal presentation. Stage hypnosis performances often encourage audience to look further into the benefits of hypnotism.[1] The causes of behaviour exhibited by volunteers in stage hypnosis shows is an area of dispute. Some claim it illustrates altered states of consciousness (i.e., "hypnotic trance"). Others maintain that it can be explained by a combination of psychological factors observed in group settings such as disorientation, compliance, peer pressure, and ordinary suggestion. Others yet allege that deception plays a part.
Contents 1
History 1.1 20th century
2
Skepticism
3
Role of deception
4
Role of hypnotist and subject 4.1 Hypnotist 4.2 Subjects
5
Law
6
References
7
Further reading
History Stage hypnosis evolved out of much older shows conducted by Mesmerists and other performers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Scottish surgeon James Braid developed his technique of hypnosis after witnessing a stage performance by the travelling Swiss magnetic demonstrator Charles Lafontaine (1803–1892) in November 1841.[2][3][4] Braid was well aware of similar performances by "electro-biologists" in his day;[5] e.g., Braid published the contents of an advertising hand-bill for an "electro-biology" performance by a visiting American, George W. Stone,[6] on 12 March 1851, which, as well as clearly emphasising that Stone was claiming to use volunteers from the audience, rather than his own stooges/assistants, details some of the phenomena that Stone's audience might have expected to have displayed to them. Persons in a perfectly wakeful state, of well-known character and standing in society, who come forward voluntarily from among the audience, will be experimented upon. They will be deprived of the power of speech, hearing, sight. Their voluntary motions will be completely controlled, so that, they can neither rise up nor sit down, except at the will of the operator; their memory will be taken away, so that they will forget their own name and that of their most intimate friends; they will be made to stammer, and to feel pain in any part of their body at the option of the operator – a walking stick will be made to appear a snake, the
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taste of water will be changed to vinegar, honey, coffee, milk, brandy, wormwood, lemonade, etc., etc., etc. These extraordinary experiments are really and truly performed without the aid of trick, collusion, or deception, in the slightest possible degree.[7]
These are identical to many of the demonstrations which became central to subsequent "stage hypnosis", in fact it seems that little changes except the name and the introduction of the hypnotic induction, etc. Likewise, the novelist Mark Twain similarly recounts a Mesmeric performance which clearly resembles 20th century stage hypnosis, in his autobiography. The absence of any reference to "hypnotism" in these early performances, indeed before the term was coined, and the fact that they often lacked anything resembling a modern hypnotic induction is consistent with the skeptical view, that stage hypnosis is primarily the result of ordinary suggestion rather than hypnotic trance. Indeed, early performers often claimed that they were influencing their subjects by means of telepathy and other supernatural powers. Others, however, were delivering performances that displayed the wide range of hypnotic manifestations to their audiences. In the United States, for example, in the 1890s, there was a small group of highly skilled stage hypnotists, all whom were managed by Thomas F. Adkin, who toured country-wide, playing to packed houses. Adkin's group included Sylvain A. Lee,[8] Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Flint,[9] and Professor Xenophon LaMotte Sage.[10]
20th century Throughout the 20th century, despite adopting the term "hypnotism", stage hypnotists continued to explain their performances to audiences by reference to supernatural powers and animal magnetism. Ormond McGill, e.g., in his Encyclopedia of the subject wrote in 1996 that: Some have called this powerful transmission of thought from one person to another "thought projection". The mental energy used appears to be of two types: magnetic energy ... generated within the body and telepathic energy generated within the mind. ... The two work together as a unit in applying Power Hypnosis. The operation of the two energies in combination is what Mesmer referred to as "animal magnetism".[11]
However, this is not what Braid meant by "hypnotism", a term coined in opposition to theories of Mesmerism, to stress the fact that the results were due to ordinary psychological and physiological processes, such as suggestion and focused attention, rather than telepathy or animal magnetism. Indeed, after meeting with Mr. Stone, experimenting with his own subjects, and presenting his findings on such performances to the Royal Institution, Braid concludes, There is, therefore, both positive and negative proof in favour of my mental and suggestive theory, and in opposition to the magnetic, occult, or electric theories of the Mesmerists and electro-biologists. My theory, moreover, has this additional recommendation, that it is level to our comprehension, and adequate to for all which is demonstrably true, without offering any violence to reason and common sense, or being at variance with generally itted physiological and psychological principles.[12]
However, modern stage performers often continue to misuse the word "hypnosis" in describing their shows and encourage misconceptions about hypnotism by confusing it with Mesmerism for dramatic effect.
Skepticism
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Mesmeric and other stage performances changed their names to "stage hypnotist" in the 19th century. They had originally claimed to produce the same effects by means of telepathy and animal magnetism, and only later began to explain their shows in of hypnotic trance and suggestion. Hence, many of the precursors of stage hypnosis did not employ hypnotic induction techniques. Moreover, several modern stage performers have themselves published criticisms which suggest that stage hypnosis is largely the result of sleight of hand, ordinary suggestion, and social
Catalepsy: "the human bridge".
compliance, etc., rather than hypnotic trance. Most notably, the wellknown American magician and performer, Kreskin, has frequently carried out typical stage hypnosis demonstrations without using any hypnotic induction. After working as a stage hypnotist and magician for nearly two decades, Kreskin became a skeptic and a whistleblower from within the stage hypnosis field. For nineteen years I had believed in ... the sleeplike "hypnotic trance," practicing it constantly. Though I had nagging doubts at times, I wanted to believe in it. There was an overpowering mystique about putting someone to sleep, something that set me and all other "hypnotists" apart. We were marvellous Svengalis or Dr. Mesmers, engaged in a supernatural practice of sorts. Then it all collapsed. For me anyway.[13]
After experimenting with his own subjects for several years until he was satisfied he could perform "stage hypnosis" without any hypnotic induction or trance, he concluded, "The battle of semantics may be waged for years, but I firmly believe that what is termed 'hypnosis' is, again, a completely normal, not abnormal, response to simple suggestion." An outspoken skeptic regarding stage hypnosis, Kreskin not only actively debunked stage hypnotists' claims, but went so far as to offer a substantial monetary reward, $25,000, to anyone who could prove the existence of hypnotic trance. The reward has been unsuccessfully challenged three times.[14] While debunking the "sleep-trance" concept, Kreskin, like other skeptics adopting the nonstate position, was keen to emphasise that he felt the value of hypnotic suggestion had been frequently underestimated. British stage hypnotist, Alex Tsander, has made a rejection of belief in a "state of hypnosis" a central feature of his career.[15] Tsander, who was among 39 parties consulted by the UK Home Office during their 1995-96 review of the regulation of performance,[16] whilst continuing to perform, since 1993, also promoted a sceptical, social psychological view in a series of books. In "The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism"
[17]
he stressed a terminological distinction
between "hypnotism" and "hypnosis", stating that "hypnotism is the art of creating the illusion of hypnosis". Tsander calls his show "I Can't Believe It's NOT Hypnosis",[18] a title since adopted by others. Tsander boldly states in publicity that no participant is ever in a "state of hypnosis". He argues, in "Beyond Hypnosis",[19] that all activities that use hypnotic protocols, such as in hypnotherapy, are based in the cultural influence of roles and schemas of what it is to be hypnotised, ultimately created and sustained through the impressions made by stage hypnotists, manipulating social psychological factors. As an extreme illustration of this, Tsander has used the example of Milton Erickson. Whilst Erickson objected to stage hypnotism, Tsander argued, in "Beyond Erickson" [20] that the therapists reputation largely depended upon live demonstrations and that he was in effect a stage hypnotist. He takes Erickson's own s of his demonstrations and explains them in of normal, social psychological processes and interactions, requiring no special phenomenon or hypnosis to explain. Tsander's actions have been counter critiqued to the effect that he: "...has repeatedly tried to show that "the human bridge" phenomena created by stage hypnotists is easily done without hypnosis. However the photos of his examples always show under the shoulders whereas stage hypnotists had only the head ed. Perhaps this is why his books and articles have received little circulation, interest or comment".[21] However, if we look at the classic archive image shown above we indeed see spanning the top of the shoulders. To do otherwise is feasible but foolish, risking injury resulting from pressure accentuated by moment of angle from the length of the body ed. Indeed, as Tsander himself emphasises, in the UK under the 1996 Model Conditions,[22] the routine, when entailing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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weight placed upon the volunteer, is altogether forbidden for reason of physical hazard. Moreover, invariably this mode of is the case in all available images of the supposed "feat" currently published online including videos. The majority indeed show s placed lower than this (closer together) as examples illustrate.[23][24][25] By contrast if we look at one of Tsanders examples[26] we see the s placed actually further apart with a nonhypnotised volunteer than in those supposedly hypnotised and demonstrating "catalepsy".[27] The need felt by such commentors to adduce ad hominem (see above quote) appears to indicate argument on the basis of emotion rather than substance. The onus to provide evidence rests with those who claim that the "feat" represents a supra-normal result. Their potential argument that any given instance is a "bad" example begs the question as to where a perfect instance can be found. Another sceptic is Mark Lewis, magician and hypnotist who stated quite openly in his book, "Introduction to Stage Hypnosis" that he did not believe in the trance state phenomena. He stated that what happens on stage is a combination of social compliance, suggestibility and self-delusion.
Role of deception Due to stage hypnotists' showmanship, many people believe that hypnosis is a form of mind control. However, the effects of stage hypnosis are probably due to a combination of relatively ordinary social psychological factors such as peer pressure, social compliance, participant selection, ordinary suggestibility, and some amount of physical manipulation, stagecraft, and trickery.[28] The desire to be the centre of attention, having an excuse to violate their own inner fear suppressors and the pressure to please are thought to convince subjects to "play along".[29] Books written by stage hypnotists sometimes explicitly describe the use of deception in their acts. For example, Ormond McGill's New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis describes an entire "fake hypnosis" act which depends upon the use of private whispers throughout: [The hypnotist whispers off-microphone:] "We are going to have some good laughs on the audience and fool them ... so when I tell you to do some funny things, do exactly as I secretly tell you. Okay? Swell." (Then deliberately wink at the spectator in a friendly fashion.)[30]
According to experts such as Theodore X. Barber and André Muller Weitzenhoffer, stage hypnosis traditionally employs three fundamental strategies: 1. Participant compliance. Participants on stage tend to be compliant because of the social pressure felt in the situation constructed on stage, before an expectant audience. 2. Participant selection. Preliminary suggestion tests, such as asking the audience to clasp their hands and suggesting they cannot be separated, are usually used to select out the most suggestible and socially compliant subjects from the audience. By asking for volunteers to mount the stage, the performer also tends to select the most extraverted of the audience. 3. Deception of the audience. Stage hypnotists are performers who traditionally, but not always, employ a variety of "sleight of hand" strategies to mislead their audience for dramatic effect. The strategies of deception employed in traditional stage hypnosis can be categorised as follows: 1. Off-microphone whispers. The hypnotist lowers his microphone and whispers secret instructions to the participant on stage, outside the audience's hearing. These may involve requests to "play along" or fake hypnotic responses.[31] 2. Failure to challenge. The stage hypnotist pretends to challenge subjects to defy a suggestion, for example, "You cannot stand up out of your chair because your backside is stuck down with glue." However, no specific cue is given to the participants to begin their effort ("Start trying now!"). This creates the illusion that a specific challenge has been issued and effort made to defy it.[31] 3. Fake hypnosis tricks. Stage hypnosis literature contains a large repertoire of sleight of hand tricks, of the kind used by professional illusionists. None of these tricks require any hypnosis or suggestion, but depend purely on physical manipulation and audience deception. The most famous example of this type is the "human plank" trick, which involves making a subject's body become rigid (cataleptic) and suspending them horizontally between two chairs, at which point the hypnotist will often stand upon their chest for dramatic effect. This has nothing to do with hypnosis, but simply depends on the fact that when subjects are positioned in the correct way they can more weight than the audience tends to assume.[31] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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4. Stooges. Several experts, including Kreskin, have stated that stage hypnotists have been known to make use of stooges (also called horses) who travel from show to show. A stage hypnotist may only require a single stooge because by using him first for each demonstration real subjects from the audience will tend to follow his lead and imitate his responses. Moreover, for the climax of the show, the hypnotist will often focus on one or two subjects to demonstrate more difficult and dramatic responses involving apparent hallucinatory experiences. A single stooge can be used for this purpose.[32][33] Weitzenhoffer writes: Having not only had a chance to watch famous stage hypnotists of the 1940s and 50s such as [Ralph] Slater[34] and Polgar at work but having also had a chance to have fairly extensive personal with other stage hypnotists, I believe I can throw some light upon the situation. To begin with, one should be aware that many stage hypnotists use stooges or plants.[33]
However Alex Tsander argues
[35]
that use of a stooge has in modern times been for all practical purposes
inconceivable because of the frequency of their reappearance in different performances (sometimes repeatedly at the same venue) and the dire consequences of being discovered. A likelihood increased by the Internet, social media and camera-phones in the audience. Whilst denying the existence of a "state of hypnosis", Tsander has since the early 1990s presented "close up" sessions in which volunteers sit with him at a table whilst the audience sit or stand adjacent. An audience in close proximity makes the kind of subterfuge mentioned above, such as stage whispers, impossible. For Tsander, coupled with his denying a state of hypnosis, this demonstrates that social psychology and suggestion offer sufficient explanation for all hypnotic effects. Under favourable circumstances neither "hypnosis" nor deception is necessary to obtain even the most theatrical behaviour from suitable volunteers.[36] On the other hand, those who argue for a substantial "state" of hypnosis cite clinical claims (not actually evidenced in any case of stage performance, one hopes) such as the following: "...editorial implying most subjects have no will or interest in not following the suggestion of the hypnotist, conveniently omit the primary interest in hypnotism came in the early 1800's before ether and morphine were widely available. Thousands of extremely painful operations were performed through the use of hypnosis. Patients awoke without memory of the surgery and even healed much faster than those who endured the extreme pain without hypnosis. Sigmund Freud was directly responsible for removing hypnosis from psychotherapy because of so many reports that patients also had intuitions about conditions of patients they had never met while in the trance state."[37] Such arguments originate in the work of James Esdaile at a medical mission in India, recounted in his book of 1847. This was before the concept of "hypnotism" (only recently promoted by Braid, 1843)had spread and Esdailes work was still referred to as "Mesmerism". Whilst Esdaile claimed his patients felt no pain observers on behalf of an independent commission of enquiry for the Bengal government reported scenes of those undergoing such operations writhing in agony. Regarding more recent claims of painless surgery, T.X.Barber, among others has pointed out that detail in s of such surgery it that patients are, even though not unconscious, rendered stuporous by cocktails of anxiolytics. Moreover, the proportion of patients capable of undergoing such procedures (attaining sufficiently "deep" "hypnosis") is as small as the percentage of the population who are capable of undergoing surgery with neither chemical nor hypnotic assistance, inviting the suspicion that these groups of "special" patients overlap. Moreover, Barber also points out that invariably, cases of hypnotic surgery do use local anaesthetic at the area of incision, whilst internal organs are not capable of ing pain in response to a skilled cut rendering many such operations feasible without general anaesthetic, the role of hypnotic influence being essentially at an emotional or anxiolytic level. Furthermore, far from there being "thousands" of such cases of hypno-anaesthesia in surgery it remains sufficiently rare as to warrant the attention of news reports when it occurs. As rare, indeed, as the exceptional individuals able to undergo such surgery.
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However, none of the foregoing debate about hypnotic procedures in a clinical setting has any bearing upon stage hypnosis.
Role of hypnotist and subject Hypnotist Due to stage hypnotists' showmanship and their perpetuating the illusion of possessing mysterious abilities, the appearance of a trance state is often seen as caused by the hypnotist's power. The real power of stage hypnosis comes from the trust the "hypnotist" can instill in their subjects. Subjects have to cooperate and be willing to follow instructions and the hypnotist will employ several tests to choose the best subjects. Some people are very trusting, or even looking for an excuse to abdicate their responsibilities and are apparently able to be "hypnotised" within seconds, while others take more time to counter their fears.
A stage hypnotist and his subjects
Suggestion is very powerful and a good hypnotist will know how to deliver suggestions that can create better entertainment for the audience. In his book Deeper and Deeper by Jonathan Chase,[38] he talks about delivering suggestion, more importantly, The Super Suggestion a phrase he coined in his first published book in 1999 "From this moment everything I say to you. Every single thing I say, no matter how silly or stupid it seems will instantly become your reality. Everything I say will instantly become your reality."
He emphasises the use of repetition but warns that when they have accepted the suggestion then everything that the hypnotist says to them after this point will become an irresistible suggestion. Historically, stage hypnotists often made claims for hypnotically induced enhancements to volunteer abilities beyond normal limits. One such routine that persists is that of "The Human Bridge". The English hypnotist Alex Tsander has made a particular theme of taking this cliché routine, which is still touted by many hypnotists as a uniquely hypnotic "feat", and de-bunking it by demonstrating that no hypnosis is required. He does this in studio videos with nonhypnotised volunteers, both models and himself, talking to camera. Whilst emphasising that no weight should ever be placed on a person in that situation (which is specifically forbidden in public UK performances under the Model Conditions) he explains in "The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism" [39] how performers elsewhere deceive audiences when doing so. At the Kit Kat club, Berlin, in 2012, whilst appearing as himself, Tsander also performed as "Erektor The Bridgebuilder" presenting "Bridgeward Bound",[40] an erotic bondage version of the Human Bridge with a female co-performer, that dramatically fore-grounded the fact that the "feat" requires no hypnosis, which was neither induced nor pretended.
Subjects In a stage hypnosis situation the "hypnotist" chooses their participants carefully. First they give the entire audience a few exercises to perform and plant ideas in their minds, such as: only intelligent people can be hypnotised only those who are open-minded to being hypnotised and willing to participate.
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It has been alleged that these suggestions are designed to overcome the natural fear of trusting a stranger with the greater fear of becoming an object of ridicule as one who is unintelligent, unsociable, and joyless. However, whilst a self-proclaimed "sceptic", British stage hypnotist Alex Tsander argues that a more important reason for such onitions is to filter out "pseudo-volunteers": those who only offer to participate in order to prove that they are as they see it "too intelligent" to respond, or who want to show that they can resist becoming hypnotised, with no intention to genuinely cooperate in achieving a positive result. Tsander advises that a hypnotist should state clearly at the outset that "anyone can resist being hypnotised, so to do so will prove nothing."[17] Out of the crowd the hypnotist will spot people who appear trusting, extroverted and willing to put on a show. The hypnotist starts them off by having them imagine ordinary situations that they have likely encountered, like being cold or hot, hungry or thirsty then gradually builds to giving them a suggestion to do something that is totally out of character, such as tap dancing, singing like Elvis or clucking like a chicken. The desire to be the centre of attention, having an excuse to violate their own inner fear suppressors and the pressure to please, plus the expectation of the audience wanting them to provide some entertainment is usually enough to persuade an extrovert to do almost anything. In other words, the participants are persuaded to 'play along'. Yet, whilst this s for some situations, it does not accord with those where hecklers, uncooperative audiences and those who wish to "disprove" the hypnotist create a set of negative expectations, uncooperative atmosphere and opposition which the performer must use skill to overcome.
Law In some countries, there are laws and guidelines regarding stage hypnosis. In the UK, the Hypnotism Act 1952 governs the use of hypnosis in public. The original Act was amended in 1976 and again in 2003.[41] In 1996 the government released "model conditions" which were refined and revised after consultation with FESH and with medical and academic psychologists. Note that these have no legal force: they are suggested conditions which local authorities may or may not feel appropriate to impose or modify when regulating hypnosis.[42] If stage hypnosis is performed at a public venue a permit (permission) must be acquired from the local authority and the local authority is advised to monitor the performance to ensure that all guidelines are followed. It is illegal to hold any form of stage hypnosis in a public venue (amongst other venues) unless the local authority has issued their consent for this. In the accompanying circular announcing the revised model conditions in 1996[43] it was conceded that, as asserted by skeptical stage hypnotist Alex Tsander during the consultation process: "In practice volunteers do not react as if they truly believe that there is, for example, a giant spider behind them or a bomb under their chair."[44] This was a critical point of distinction and represents a formal recognition of the "as if" nature of behaviour in stage hypnotism in contradistinction to claims for its supposed subjective reality. In the past, stage hypnosis has been banned in several countries in the world including Denmark and some states in the USA. Today, the only country to enforce a law against hypnosis is Israel, where it is illegal to perform any kind of hypnosis without a license given to doctors, dentists and psychologists.
References 1. Lennis G. Echterling & Jonathon Whalen (1995). "Stage hypnosis and public lecture effects on attitudes and beliefs regarding hypnosis". American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. 38 (1): 13–21. doi:10.1080/00029157.1995.10403173 (https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00029157.1995.10403173).
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2. "Magnetic demonstrator" – Gauld's term (Gauld, 1992, p. 204) – accurately describes Lafontaine; because whilst he was in the U.K., he only demonstrated "magnetic" phenomena; he never used it to treat anyone at any time (in public or private). 3. Braid always maintained that he had gone to Lafontaine's demonstration as an open-minded sceptic, eager to examine the evidence and, then, form a considered opinion of Lafontaine's work. He was neither a closed-minded cynic intent on destroying Lafontaine, nor a deluded and naïvely credulous believer seeking authorisation of his already formed belief (Neurypnology (1843), p.2. 4. For an extended of the interactions between Braid and Lafontaine, see Yeates (2013), pp.103–308 im. 5. "Electrobiology: A mode of inducing hypnotism by having the subject look steadily at metallic disks. The process originated about the middle of the nineteenth century, and its fame was spread by numerous lecturers in England and the United States.", Melton, J.G. [2001] (ed), Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology (Fifth Edition), in Two Volumes, Volume 1 (A-L), Thomson Gale, (Farmington Hills), 2001, p.489. 6. Stone was the compiler and editor of The Philosophy of Electro-Biology, or Electrical Psychology, in a Course of Nine Lectures, Delivered by J. B. Dods, before the United States Senate, at Washington, in 1850, etc (https://ia60 0306.us.archive.org/9/items/philosophyelect00stongoog/philosophyelect00stongoog.pdf). Stone was also involved, for a time, in the active promotion the medium, Maria Basheba Hayden (1826–1883), the wife of his close friend, William Richardson Hayden, M.D. (1820–1903), journalist, and editor of The Boston Atlas, and a monthly newsletter called The Star Spangled Banner. Maria Hayden, who graduated M.D. in 1865, also assisted Augustus De Morgan in his paranormal investigations. 7. Braid's quote is at p.512 of Braid, J., "Electro-Biological Phenomena Physiologically and Psychologically Considered, by James Braid, M.R.C.S. Edinburgh, &c. &c. (Lecture delivered at the Royal Institution, Manchester, March 26, 1851)", The Monthly Journal of Medical Science, Vol.12, (June 1851), pp. 511–530. (https://books.goog le.com/books?id=WjwCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA511#v=onepage&q=&f=false) 8. Author of The Practice of Hypnotic Suggestion (1901). One of his specialties was hypnotising per medium of the telephone; poster at [1] (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?pp/PPALL:@field(NUMBER+@band(var+0467))) [2] (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?pp/PPALL:@field(NUMBER+@band(var+2023))) 9. Herbert L. Flint was the author of Flint's lessons in hypnotism; a comprehensive work on scientific suggestion as applied in hypnotism, mesmerism, personal magnetism, magnetic healing, psycho-therapeutics, suggestive therapeutics and similar manefestations of mental development and control (1915); poster at [3] (http://hdl.loc.go v/loc.pnp/var.1617) 10. Author of Hypnotism as It Is: a Book for Everybody (1897). Xenophon LaMotte Sage was the stage name of E. Virgil Neal; see Conroy, (2009), im, especially pp. 27–40. 11. Ormond McGill, The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis, 1996: 24 12. Braid, J. (1851). Electro-Biological Phenomena, etc., p.530. 13. Kreskin, The Amazing World of Kreskin, 1973: 143. 14. Kreskin, The Amazing World of Kreskin, 1973: 152 15. Rider, D. 1995. "Playing Those Mind Games", Bath Chronicle, "Night Time" supplement, W/E March 8th 16. Dipple, D. 1996. UK Home Office circular No 39/1996 p. 2, para. 7 17. Tsander, A. 2006, 2012. The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism. Summitother. ISBN 0955073162 18. Royle, J. 2005. Confessions of A Hypnotist: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hypnosis But Were Afraid To Ask. Xlibris Corporation. P450. 19. Tsander, A. 2005. Beyond Hypnosis: Hypnotism, Stage Hypnotism and The Myth of "Hypnosis", Summitother, ISBN 0955073189 20. Tsander, A. 2005. Beyond Erickson: A Fresh Look at "The Emperor of Hypnosis", Summitother. ISBN 0955073103 21. Anon. 2016. Edit made as quoted to this wiki by a contributor. 22. Dipple, D. 1996. UK Home Office. Circular No 39/1996. 23. Greenoasis. 2016. Visual reference No 2. Accessed online at:http://img11.deviantart.net/546b/i/2013/361/d/c/catalepsy_23_by_greenoasisfan-d6zng70.png 24. Greenoasisfan. 2016. Visual reference No 3. Accessed online at: http://img04.deviantart.net/16b6/i/2013/226/3/6/catalepsy_14_by_greenoasisfan-d6i42zn.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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25. Lexlucas. 2016. Visual reference No 4. Accessed online at: http://img15.deviantart.net/849a/i/2014/149/d/b/simone2_136_stiff_as_steel_by_lexlucas-d7k7bd6.jpg 26. Flickr. 2016. Accessed online at: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5143/5554431351_fc50c2d282_b_d.jpg 27. See visual references 2, 3 and 4, above. 28. Yapko, Michael (1990). Trancework: An introduction to the practice of Clinical Hypnosis. New York, New York: Brunner/Mazel. p. 28. 29. Wagstaff, Graham F. (1981) Hypnosis, Compliance and Belief, St. Martin's Press, New York. ISBN 0-312-40157-4 30. McGill, Ormond. (1996) The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis, p. 506. 31. Barber, Spanos & Chaves. Hypnotism: Imagination & Human Potentialities (1974), p. 105. 32. Kreskin. The Amazing World of Kreskin (1973), p. 149. 33. Weitznehoffer, Andre. The Practice of Hypnotism (2000), p. 400. 34. Real name Joseph Bolsky (see [4] (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.198933960176777.46878.18412 0231658150&type=3) ("Dr. Wilbur" is Cornelia B. Wilbur), and [5] (http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-co urts/F2/192/308/210802)). 35. Tsander, A. 2006,2012. The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism, Summitother. ISBN 0955073162 36. Tsander, A. Visual Reference, 1.Accessed online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/16196214@N07/1753544748/in/album-721576027209907589/ 37. Anon. 2016. Edit to this Wiki as quoted. 38. Chase, Jonathan (2005) Deeper and Deeper the secrets of stage hypnosis - p. 101 39. Tsander, A. 2005, 2012. The Art and Secrets of Stage Hypnotism. Summitother. ISBN 0955073162 40. Residentadvisor. 2012. Wasteland Berlin. Accessed online at: https://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?395975 41. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/changes/affected/ukpga/1952/46 42. http://www.fesh.co.uk/Law.htm 43. Dipple, D. 1996. UK Home Office circular No39/1996 44. Dipple, 1996, p6, sub-section "Previous Section 3(I)(Vi).
Further reading Braid, J., Neurypnology or the Rationale of Nervous Sleep Considered in Relation with Animal Magnetism Illustrated by Numerous Cases of its Successful Application in the Relief and Cure of Disease, John Churchill, (London), 1843. (https://archive.org/details/neurypnologyorr00braigoog) N.B. Braid's Errata, detailing a number of important corrections that need to be made to the foregoing text, is on the un-numbered page following p.265. (https://archive.org/stream/neurypnologyorr00braigoog#page/n292/ mode/1up) Brandon, Joan, "Successful Hypnotism" Stravon Publishers (1956) ASIN B000JD0XS2 Brandon, Joan,"The Art of Hypnotism" Fawcett How-To Book. Publisher: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1956 Brandon, Joan, "Science Of Self-Hypnosis" Publisher: Joan Brandon, Brandon Enterprises, 1959 Emery, Carla (1998). "Secret, Don’t Tell: The Encyclopedia of Hypnotism" (http://www.secretdonttell.com). Acorn Hill Publishing. ISBN 9780965993036 Conroy, M.S., The Cosmetics Baron You've Never Heard Of: E. Virgil Neal and Tokalon (Second, Revised Edition), Altus History LLC, (Englewood), 2012. ISBN 0-9826314-7-2 [6] (https://www.amazon.com/Cosmetics-Bar on-Youve-Never-Heard/dp/0982631472) Crawford, H.J., Kitner-Triolo, M., Clarke, S.W. & Olesko, B., "Transient Positive and Negative Experiences Accompanying Stage Hypnosis", Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol.101, No.4, (November 1992), pp. 663– 667. Echterling, L.G. & Emmerling, D.A., "Impact of Stage Hypnosis", American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, Vol.29, No.3, (January 1987), pp. 149–154. [plus editorial comment, see Mott, T., pp. 147–148.] Gauld, A., A History of Hypnotism, Cambridge University Press, 1992.[7] (https://books.google.com/books?id=XZ 5xJq7qovMC&lpg=PP1&dq=History%20of%20Hypnotism&pg=PA279#v=onepage&q=&f=false) Harling I.G., Nyrup M.A., "Mischief - Radical Hypnosis & Mind-Control", Spellbound Books, 2010 ISBN 978-87990481-2-0 - 'Mischief' is the author's previous books, 'Sleight of Mind' & 'Geist' in one title. Heap, M., "The Alleged Dangers of Stage Hypnosis", Contemporary Hypnosis, Vol.17, No.3, (September 2000), p. 117–126. (http://asociatiaromanadehipnoza.ro/wp-content/s/2013/10/THE-ALLEGED-DANGERS-OF-ST AGE-HYPNOSIS.pdf) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis
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McGill, O., Professional Stage Hypnotism, Westwood Publishing Co., (Los Angeles), 1977. McGill, O., The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism, Anglo American Book Company, (St. Clears), 1996. Meeker, W.B. & Barber, T.X., "Toward An Explanation Of Stage Hypnosis", Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Vol.77, No.1, (1971), pp. 61–70. Nadis, F., "Of Horses, Planks, and Window Sleepers: Stage Hypnotism Meets Reform, 1836–1920", Journal of Medical Humanities, Vol.22, No.3, (Fall 2001), p. 223–245. Yeates, L.B., James Braid: Surgeon, Gentleman Scientist, and Hypnotist, Ph.D. Dissertation, School of History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, January 2013. (htt p://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:11299/SOURCE01) Christopher Caress "Sleep Easy", An inside look into the world of Stage Hypnosis with a modern approach No.1, 2011 Christopher Caress "Hypno Tricks", No.1, 2010 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stage_hypnosis&oldid=805305710" This page was last edited on 14 October 2017, at 13:48. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional may apply. By using this site, you agree to the of Use and . Wikipedia® is a ed trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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