Post Hypnotic Suggestion

[Harlequin]

I recently read in Paul McKenna's book about Post Hypnotic Suggestion.
In he's book he described a Post Hypnotic Suggestion in which everytime somebody said Elvis the hypnotized dude started screming "I belive in fairies." (I find this example kinda funny).
I had already heard about it and seen some videos with this kind of hynosis before.
So I was wondering if aybody had tried it and maybee someone could share the experience.
And one more question- does it go away itself after a period of time or do you need to hypotize the person again to stop the effect?

[Don]

Hi, Harlequin.

There are two major divisions in hypnosis, stage hypnotism, which is done for entertainment, and hypnotherapy, which is done to help people. Although most of the people on this forum are primarily involved with hypnotherapy, there are some who also work with stage hypnosis.

What you are describing is part of stage hypnosis. What you are also describing is what some people would call "entertainment through humiliation." Let me ask you this: if you were in a crowd of your best friends, people who admire you and respect you, and every few minutes you stood up and shouted, "I believe in fairies," how would you feel?

Many people would feel embarrassed and humiliated. They would never, under any conditions, do that. Others might feel that it would be jolly fun and would do it with any time.

Part of a good stage hypnosis show involves finding great subjects, sometimes called "actors," in the audience for the show. As a result of his or her training, a good stage hypnotist will be able to recognize a clown or ham who would just love to have an excuse to jump up and yell, "I believe in fairies" in order to make his friends lap. The hypnotist would also recognize someone who would never do that.

Hypnosis cannot make anyone do something they do not want to do. It would be a failure as a stage performer to try and get someone to do something that they simply won't do. But what about the person who, under the right conditions might do it but would then feel humiliated and embarrassed afterward, perhaps to the extent of even causing depression or the ruination of relationships?

Today, most modern, up-to-day stage hypnotists don't do entertainment through humiliation. They're skilled enough not to need to do so. They're talented enough to produce lots of entertainment without needing to humiliate anyone. Are there humiliation specialists? Yes, there are. And the truth is, once the get a reputation for that the people who attend their shows expect it and their are no problems. However, they lock themselves out of doing family shows, trade shows, TV shows, etc. They basically limit their potential, and that's not a very good business model.

A good hypnotist will remove all suggestions given during a stage show at the end of the performance.

[Merlin]

Hi,

It's a common type of suggestion, used in hypnosis stage shows.
Have you read my FAQ?

[Harlequin]

Thanks for your answer. But it feels like you misunderstood me. The hypnosis I described was just an example of post hypnotic suggestion and it's not that I'd like to do something so humiliating to somebody. It's just that I was iterested in the process of this kind of hypnosis and how it all works. You see, it's interesting for me how a stage hynotist can suggest such a powerful state of hyposis. I truly hope you got my idea and that you don't think I'm a moron that just wants to have some fun humiliating people. As I said- for me it's just important to uderstand every part of hypnosis fully.

[Poodle]

If you have a chance you may wish to study stage hypnosis in the USA or the UK. Personally, I prefer not to humiliate people so I show the true and awesome power of hypnosis by having a person totally cataleptic (head in one chair - body lying straight without any support at all - feet in another chair) ^___________^. This cannot be faked!

I think one of the cutest I ever saw McKenna do was to have a grown person in a toy car totally convinced that that person had just purchased a very expensive and exclusive sports car and was taking it out for it's "spin" on the stage.

Keep up your interest in hypnosis. We do live in a fascinating world.

Be well,
Pood

[Don]

Thanks for your answer. But it feels like you misunderstood me. The hypnosis I described was just an example of post hypnotic suggestion and it's not that I'd like to do something so humiliating to somebody. It's just that I was iterested in the process of this kind of hypnosis and how it all works. You see, it's interesting for me how a stage hynotist can suggest such a powerful state of hyposis. I truly hope you got my idea and that you don't think I'm a moron that just wants to have some fun humiliating people. As I said- for me it's just important to uderstand every part of hypnosis fully.

Harlequin, the process is actually very simple.
1) Hypnotize a person
2) Give them the posthypnotic suggestion
3) Bring them out of hypnosis
4) Give the "cue" for them to respond to the suggestion

However, that's like saying the process for building a nuclear bomb is simple. It actually is. However, the devil, they say, is in the details!

First, you have to learn how to hypnotize people. Remember, not all people can easily be hypnotized the same way, so you have to learn multiple systems of inducing hypnosis as well as learn how to quickly determine the style of hypnotic induction that is appropriate for an individual.

Second, you have to learn the way to word and give hypnotic suggestions. Sure, it looks easy, but it actually takes a lot of training and experience to do it well.

Then, you have to learn how to bring a person out of the hypnotic trance. That's probably the easiest thing to learn.

Next, you need to learn how to give the cue that triggers the response in the person you hypnotized.

Of course, that's not all. It's rare that you would give a show to one person. So to give a good show you also need to learn what to say (or have said) for your introduction to the audience; what music, if any, to have playing; how to "hold" the audience's attention; what to say to the audience before you give examples of hypnosis; how to "test" for "hypnotic suggestibility"; what examples of the power of hypnosis to give; how to choose "actors," the people to hypnotize, for your show; how to develop, make, or purchase any props you want to use in the show; and much more. A good stage hypnotist might also want to study, and practice, acting, public speaking, stage presence, etc. And if you want to be a professional, you also have to learn about business practices, advertising, publicity, bookkeeping, insurance, local and state laws, working with employees, video recording and duplication, etc.

As another person suggested, if you would like to learn this, I, too, would suggest taking an in-person course. Most of the video courses I've seen have been horribly incomplete. I would also suggest the book, The New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism by Ormond McGill. It's considered "the bible" of stage hypnotism.

[Terry]

I don;t believe you were misunderstood, after all I quote, "I find this account rather funny".... Now I interpret that as meaning amusing and not strange, as did anyone else who read what you wrote I imagine.

[Harlequin]

McKenna is a profesional who knows what he does. Words Elvis and fairies seem funny even by themself. :)

[Poodle]

Those are your beliefs and we all do not share the same beliefs as you may find out by reading Merlin's FAQ. They are not beliefs I could care to adopt.

And, may I say, this Board if staffed by PROFESSIONALS who know what we do.

Pood, Don, Merlin,
Certified Instructors of Hypnotherapy
(among many other things)
Not to mention this Forum is owned by a school that teaches Hypnotherapy. It's called American Pacific University in case you didn't notice and is owned by Dr. Matt James

[Harlequin]

Oh, now I see. I guess this is wrong forum for me. I'll try to find one that's better in my case.

[Harlequin]

Thank you for the book title. I'll try to get my hands on it.

[Jack]

Goodbye.

Jack