Ericksonian Hypnosis as a Possible Form of Inquiry: A Peircean Phenomenological Approach

The present article proposes a phenomenological analysis of Ericksonian hypnosis, highlighting it as a potential form of inquiry on human subjectivity. Ericksonian hypnosis is one of the most innovative therapeutic approaches created in the twentieth century. It is commonly understood as a kind of therapy and not a possible way of inquiry. Therapists usually associate hypnosis to private or institutional practice, and rarely to universities or research centers. Consequently, Ericksonian hypnosis is usually seen as a school of therapy and not a creative form of inquiry that may significantly contribute to understanding both the field of hypnosis as well as the human self. To achieve our objective, this work explains the three categories of Peircean Phenomenology and its relevance as a meta-theory to describe and promote the understanding of the different fields of experience in hypnosis. A case study of Erickson's hypnosis is then presented and discussed through the three clinical attitudes inspired by these phenomenological categories. Each attitude will also be linked to a specific knowledge pathology, such as pop theories, technicism, and doctrinarian thought. Some remarks will be made to approach Erickson's hypnosis to other schools of psychotherapy during the explanation on clinical attitudes. Therefore, the authors demonstrate that Erickson's approach of hypnosis is not just a school of therapy with its list of interventions, but that it affords relevant contributions to understanding human subjectivity while simultaneously being a form of inquiry.