1.1 Development across Time
(i) Since Ancient Times
Hypnosis in one form or the other always helped mankind. During ancient times a select group of people, called saints or spiritual people, used to provide healing and blessings.
The mere touch of those divine people was enough to take the miseries of the people away. The names of the spiritual leaders like Buddha, Nanak, and Christ are known to the world for their divine effects. The magical touch of these wonderful masters used to create wonders for mankind. In any case, touch was a means to strengthen the internal power of the individual for healing or blessing. The spiritual leaders across all times served humanity by bringing realization in the people and activating their internal assets.
Special places were marked for worship, meditation and healing purposes. These days also healing is done in almost every kind of religious place, and people come to take blessings with devotion at these places in almost every part of the world. For centuries hypnosis was kept and projected as a mystery to the common man. The
image created by the people still has an influence on the minds of the people across the globe.
(ii) During Eighteenth Century
Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) observed the effect of magnetic forces on the human body while healing his patients by using magnets as a part of a healing ritual. In fact, he used trance for clinical purposes. Mesmer used the power of suggestions to take people into trances. Initially, Mesmer explained that the magnet therapy works because of the availability of a very subtle magnetic fluid flowing through everyone which sometimes gets disturbed and needs to be restored to its proper flow. But he eventually discovered that the same results were possible even without using the magnets. Even today the term “animal magnetism” is often used for mesmerism or hypnotic power. Mesmer was able to evoke, from a number of his clients, entertaining behaviors such as sleeping, dancing, etc. He basically did what today’s hypnotists do in stage shows and clinics, and what faith healers do in religious places. He set up his healing center where magnet, water, lights, and sounds were used during the healing process. His healing theory was very popular among healers, religious people, spiritual people, and scientists. He also received sharp criticism for his approach stating that he was not doing any healing rather healing was done by clients themselves. This actually was recognition of the power of the mind in the healing process.
(iii) During Nineteenth Century
James Braid, Manchester Surgeon, coined the term ‘hypnosis’ in 1843 considering previous use of the term by French researchers. Hypnosis has been derived from the Greek word ‘hypnos’ used for the god of sleep. Braid, like many other scientists, recognized interesting psychological phenomena, in hypnosis, requiring further research.
Earlier Mesmer had also changed his belief from the effect of the magnet and other gravitational forces to his own effect. But later, other scientists soon began to suspect that human imagination played a major role in the process than any physical forces or capacities of healer/mesmerist. This was a very important finding as mesmerism had attracted lots of criticism due to associations with occultism. Two thoughts of schools developed with visible effects of hypnosis. Some people called it a system of ‘medical treatment’ while others called it a tool for personal ‘spiritual fulfillment’. In his early studies, Braid thought that hypnotic induction would yield a unique condition of the nervous system that was linked somehow to certain cures by suggestion. But later, he rejected the physiological explanations of hypnosis and emphasized the “mental” factors. Braid later wanted to change the name of hypnosis by monotheism to distinguish it from sleep. But till then the word ‘hypnosis’ was accepted far and wide.
(iv) During the Twentieth Century
Many researchers gave their own interpretations such as Charcot called hypnosis manifestation of hysteria. His belief later turned out to be wrong. Liebault and Bernheim elaborated a theory of hypnotic suggestion based on ideomotor action. Ideomotor action theory says that ideas suggested by hypnotist lead automatically to actions. What qualified acceptance of hypnosis in medicine that we have today is largely due to the efforts of Clark Hull and Milton Erickson. Hull emphasized upon the measurable correlates while Erickson stressed upon the complex subjective inner processes operating in hypnosis. Hull is mainly known for his contribution in learning theory while Erickson is closely associated with clinical hypnosis today. Erickson defined hypnosis as a state of altered consciousness rejecting the notion of sleep during hypnosis.
(v) Modern View
In 1955, the British Medical Association convened an investigation into Hypnosis and its techniques and applications, and, subsequently approved use of Hypnosis as an extremely invaluable tool. Today Hypnotherapy is a highly recognized, respected and sought after tool for healing, and for changing the behavior patterns. In this modern-day age, Hypnosis is therapeutically applied to help people to combat Fears, Phobias, Smoking and Weight Problems, Addiction, Habits, Pain and even improve upon such crippling conditions such as Arthritis. The subject of hypnosis is still open to research regarding its need, utility and related mental and physiological processes.
Chronological Development:
- 1892: British Medical Association endorsed the therapeutic use of hypnosis.
- 1952: British Hypnotism Act was instituted to regulate stage hypnotists’ public entertainments.
- 1955: The British Medical Association (BMA) approved the use of hypnosis in the areas of psychoneuroses and Hypno-anesthesia in pain management in childbirth and surgery.
- 1956: Pope Pius XII gave his approval of hypnosis for diagnosis and treatment.
- 1958: the American Medical Association approved medical uses of hypnosis.
- 1960: American Psychological Association endorsed hypnosis as a branch of psychology.
- 2003: The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, vide its letter No. R.14015/25/96-U&H (R) (Pt.) dated November 25, 2003, recommended hypnotherapy in India to be practiced by only appropriately trained personnel.