what do you want? - or some things about how and why hypnosis works

Most people imagine hypnosis as some sort of mind control.



Most people that are INTO mind control fetishes seem to think hypnosis is the best answer.



The truth is actually somewhere else entirely. Hypnosis, from what I've experienced has been a lot simpler than originally imagined. There really are two parts, focus, and trance, once you have both, you have Hypnosis.



Focus is what it sounds like, a person putting all of their attention on only one thing. The hypnotist in this case. To get people there all you have to do is say "pay attention to me", it's that simple, and of course some people comply and others look at you and ask why, the thing to remember is that as with everything if you want to get a person to do something, asking them to do it isnt always the best way.



The second part of Hypnosis is trance, and that's also fairly simple. In trance a person is put in a mental state where they stop thinking and just do things automatically. People enter into a trance all the time and dont even know about it; Watching TV, driving a familiar route, getting "in the zone" at work or doing some hobby are all trance, the key is the automatic reactions and lack of critical consideration on every step.



All together, Trance makes people react, and focus means people pay attention, when you put them together, you have hypnosis, the hypnotist suggests, and the subject acts. Its all very simple.



So what does all of this have to do with mind control? well, that's the part that gets turned off, or at least down when you're hypnotized. The part of your mind that thinks about things before doing, and that is paying attention to everything at once. Even when hypnotized, it's never completely shut down, and can be awakened by various things. The main one being forcing the subject to try and go against their own morals or fears.



So it comes down to this, Hypnosis works because the person hypnotized is deeply concentrated on the hypnotist, and in a state where commands are followed automatically. People who want to be mind controlled, enjoy this state and like accepting any suggestion regardless of it's nature... unless it steps over a mental boundary of some kind (phobia, moral objection) In short, hypnosis is not supernatural, entering hypnosis is almost entirely the subject's choice and remaining in it depends on basically what they are willing to do and feel comfortable with.



Some people can be convinced to do things they wouldn't always do while they are under, they CAN NOT be convinced to do things that they would NEVER do.



So, before and often during a session, the question to ask someone is "what do you want". If you'd like to keep someone in hypnosis, the key is to give them a ride they'd enjoy, to at the very least use what they like.Ask them what they're into, you can ask them what they think hypnosis is like, either way a good hypnotist always makes sure that the person going under knows what they are in for, even if it means they know they are in for a surprise.



Whether you're interested in being behind the swinging watch or in front of it I'd love to hear what else people would like me to talk about, so this is an official question for commenters.What do you want?



Happy Trancing.



- The Curious Hypnotist