Jan

24

Hypnosis - Will I Pass The Test?

January 24, 2008 |

In this article I shall be talking about suggestibility tests. The main reason any hypnotist would ever choose to utilize suggestibility testing is to get some indication as to how suggestible a person or persons may be to hypnosis.

In clinical practice, suggestibility testing isn’t generally used, because it’s of little relevance. Our therapy isn’t based on achieving hypnosis rapidly, nor do we seek to make any kind of point or impression about hypnosis.

It is in the venue of stage hypnosis where suggestibility tests can be very useful. When a stage hypnotist is preparing to put on a show, it helps him greatly if he has a way to identify which persons will be most suggestible. He will want to make these determinations as quickly as possible. Stage hypnotists still use suggestibility testing regularly. An experienced hypnotist can test a group of people together, and within a few seconds, identify the ones that stand out as good hypnotic subjects for a stage show. This means pinpointing people who will be relatively easy to hypnotize and who will take on suggestion quite readily.

There are various techniques to determine suggestibility. Some common tests include having the person clasp their hands together tightly, while listening to the hypnotist’s suggestion that the hands are super-glued together or locked in place.

Another more visually identifiable technique would have a person hold both hands out, palms up, and then imagining that they have something very heavy in one hand, like a bowling ball or a pile of books, while they have something very light in the other hand, like a feather or a helium balloon. The theory is that the hand holding the imaginary books will start to collapse. A hypnotist can then measure how quickly or how readily the suggestion was taken in by the person. This gives an indication of their level of susceptibility to hypnosis.

I might use suggestibility testing to get some indication about how suggestible a client may be, but generally, in the therapeutic setting, it’s not necessary. I’ve used it on children, because they like that sort of thing, and sure, it serves as proof of the power of the mind, but I wouldn’t use it for that purpose. I don’t generally have the need to use testing.

There are lots of tests, involving the physical body and the imagination and the sensory systems. There may be many reasons to use suggestibility testing, but generally, the tests are used to give a hypnotist some indication of how suggestible a person may be.

Barrie St John is a leading figure in the field of self hypnosis. For more information about Barrie St John please visit www.HypnoShop.com.

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