What is the Source of Hypnotic Responses?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• History of Science

Background:

• Hypnosis is often viewed as a culture-bound phenomenon.
• Its effects are frequently attributed to suggestion and hypnotic induction.
• Western science has historically overlooked a natural human capacity for altering personal experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose that hypnosis is a misattribution of a natural human ability.
• To differentiate this ability from suggestion, trance, and hypnotic induction.
• To highlight the impact of conflating this ability with hypnosis on scientific integration.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of historical and scientific literature on hypnosis and suggestibility.
• Examination of the cultural and scientific frameworks surrounding the study of altered states of experience.
• Theoretical re-framing of phenomena attributed to hypnosis.

Main Results:

• Identified a natural, freestanding human ability to intentionally alter personal experience.
• Demonstrated that this ability does not require suggestion, trance, or hypnotic induction.
• Showcased how this ability has been historically conflated with hypnosis, suggestion, and hypnotizability.

Conclusions:

• Hypnosis is a culture-bound concept that has misattributed a natural human ability.
• The conflation of this ability with hypnosis has impeded scientific integration.
• Acknowledging this natural capacity can advance the understanding of human consciousness and experience.