Tests for hypnosis??

[fussyhypno]

Hi, i have been trying to think of ways to test for hypnosis, that you cant fake, like the lights out lights on method, that makes the pupils dilate, but i dont like doing that out of fear of damaging the eyes. Has anyone got any other tests that cannot be faked? Thanks in advance, Daz

[teadaze]

I dont see how this test would damage the eyes unless it was done in front of bright lights and direct sunlight.

Any unconscious reaction can be used cant it? Are you wanting to test for yourself or the subject?

[fussyhypno]

hi, i was concerned because the pupil lets in more light than is needed, they are open to the size normally for a reason, if it was still light, it is letting in more light than usual.

i was thinking of tests for subjects to show the audience. thanks again, Daz

[Jonathan Chase]

Hi Fussy,

You won't damage the eyes with light. You can look into the sun for a few seconds and it won't damage, just turn them off for a while. You would have to do so repeatedly to damage anything. And you aren't doing that.

That besides, a simple test for hypnosis is do they respond without question to your suggestions. That is actually the only test.

As for your audience they could give a damn if people are genuinely hypnotised or not so long as they are enjoying themselves.

In a therapeutic situation it counts, on stage it doesn't. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to convince anyone except your volunteers, you don't.

Jonathan Chase - author Deeper and Deeper - the secrets of stage hypnosis.
www.thehypnotist.co.uk

[fussyhypno]

Well, at the moment i am doing hypnosis for small groups of people, and everynow and then someone will shout out, 'its fake' or something like that, and i feel i have to prove it otherwise it brings the group down. The eye is really good with some people, but others it doesnt do so well on.

Thanks for your help so far guys, anyone else got ideas?

Daz

[Don]

Hi, FH.

Many times, people come here with a very little understanding of the mind (from a hypnotherapeutic paradigm), self-diagnose a problem and come up with an incorrect solution, but want us to give them that solution. Ethically, this is something we cannot--or at least should not--do.

In this case, you have done something similar. You began by asking for ways to test to see if a person is hypnotised. But this was because you had given us an inaccurate description of what you wanted and what you needed to do. As a result, all of the answers given do not really meet your needs. Only now are you revealing the real problem: in a group, not all people are hypnotized and they interrupt you. You thought that the solution is to be able to see if they're really hypnotized (self-diagnosis and prescription). Respectfully, if you had really stated the situation instead of your mis-diagnosis and wrong prescription, it would have saved time. That's not meant as an insult, just a "heads up" for the future.

Your problem has nothing to do with hypnosis. It has to do with crowd control and audience managment.

Hypnosis is not a me vs. them (hypnotist vs. clients) situation. Rather, it is cooperative. In a group, there are always going to be a certain number of people who do not wish to cooperate and will not go under hypnosis. The problem is not trying to hypnotize them and then using a test to see if they're hypnotised. Rather, it's to make sure that if they choose not to allow themselves to be hypnotized, that they will keep quiet and then be amazed at what happens to other people.

Just as in any hypnotherapeutic situation the hypnotist gives a pre-talk, when a person gives a group demonstration, he or she must also give a pre-talk. Part of this must include some basic concepts for a group. These are ones that I include. Parenthetical comments indicate why I say these things:

1) Anyone can be hypnotized (sets up a belief system)
2) Contrary to popular belief, people with "weak minds" are not easier to hypnotize. Rather, they take more effort. The truth is, the smarter you are the easier it is for you to be hypnotized (since most people think they are smart, it sets up the belief that they are easier to hypnotize)
3) Some people will say, "you can't hypnotize me!" The truth is, that's correct. If you don't want to be hypnotized I will not be able to hypnotize you. If you are willing and smart, it will be easy for you to be hypnotized (let's them know that if they aren't hypnotized it's their fault, not yours
4) If you decide you don't want to experience this beautiful, relaxing, state of hypnosis and don't want to be hypnotized, please don't say anything that will disturb those who are looking forward to experiencing this amazing state (tells them to shut up)

Of course, if your description in the post above is as inaccurate as your original post, this may be meaningless for your situation.

[fussyhypno]

Wow, thankyou so much for that, thats brill, infact i have now printed one off and it is by my PC on my desk, stuck :-)

I will give another scene, lol

1 person hypnotised, not a group, just with a group, then someone says she/he isnt hypnotised, i think it would be good to prove to the audience, and to me really, how deep/or even at all hypnotised they are.

I like the eye test because it also gives indication of how deep they are, but not all people respond, then tell me after they didnt want it. I am looking for other, maybe, routines i guess, that you cant fake, like the pupils dilating.

Dont worry, i saw your post as very informative, not an insult.

And in my original post, i meant just that, hypnotherapy and stage, for the hypnotist to check if he/she suspects something.

Thanks again, Daz

[Don]

Try a stiff arm experiment.

Tell the hypnotized person to hold their arm out, stiff as an iron bar, yada, yada, yada.

Then have everyone else hold their arms out. Now talk about something. In a few minutes, most of their arms will have dropped. Eventually, all of their arms will drop except for the hypnotized person.

[fussyhypno]

thankyou, thats what i wanted, why cant i use my brain?! Thanks again, Daz

P.S. i love the stiff arm to go into controling their arm, i should of thought before!

[Merlin]

Even that one can be faked.
It's just rare that the subject would know how to fake it.

[Merlin]

Welcome Jon

[fussyhypno]

i tried it, i done it with a sibject, had some people not believe, by the end i had then congratulating the subject, then i gave him no pain in the arm, incase when he rested it, he had pain.

Thanks again everyone
Daz

[M. Albright]

You could give suggestion that one side of the face will blush whilst the other side remains cool and normal in appearence.

You could have their eyes stick open and not blink.

You could numb their arm and do something that would normally be painful, you could produce full-body catalepsy and prop your volunteer on the backs of two chairs... (but you could lose your butt in a lawsuit if this goes wrong, too, so careful! -after all, anything that can harm someone normally will harm them while in hypnosis, they just may not be aware of the damage immediately.)

So many demonstrative tests...

If you want to convince the entire audience, do finger magnets on the whole bunch of them at the beginning of your presentation. It works on almost everyone, and they get to experience suggestion themselves without even being hypnotized proper. There are loads of waking suggestions for the crowd that you can open with that will set the mood for your audience to be more accepting of the on-stage demonstrations.

~M. Albright