On Hypnotism

Kinds of hypnotism:

1. Post-hypnotic suggestion. This kind of hypnotism is given to the subject while he is in a trance. However, it does not take effect until sometimes after the subject has been awakened and is in normal state of awareness. Usually he has no conscious knowledge of what the hypnotist has told him. When a strong urge to carry out the instruction rises from the depths of his mind, he will not realize the urge is anything other than a perfectly natural one. The urge comes from a command or signal. A post-hypnotic action will not be triggered, however, when such action would put the subject in danger.
2. Auto-suggestion. The hypnotist and the subject are one and the same person. Strong emotions such as fear, anger, resentment, hate and evern adoration may encourage auto-suggestion, but it is a repetition of a thought or conclusion that closes the ind to any contrary considerations.

The rules of hypnotizing a person:

1. The subject should always be awakened from the trance with a few seconds of warning and with the suggestion that he will feel fine both physically and mentally.
2. Not to shift the subject abruptly from one situation to another.

Source: Mysteries of the Mind (1972) by Margaret Oldroyd Hyde, Edward S. Marks, and James B. Wells.

The four steps involved in hypnotism:
A good hypnotist wouldn't attempt to hypnotize a subject is mental stability was doubtful.

1. Prepare the subject being hypnotized. You would test his attitude--his receptiveness to the idea of being hypnotized--and gain his confidence in your ability and judgment.
2. To guide the subject toward the relaxed, somnolent state of mind that leads to the hypnotic trance, which is a form of awareness that is receptive only to the hypnotist's voice.
3. By intensifying the hypnotic process launches the subject into an actual hypnotic trance.
4. The real hypnotism takes place.

The danger of hypnotism:
Primary danger of hypnotism, if it can be called that, is the very real possibility that, as a result of the rapport established between the practitioner and the subject those people who are unable to cope with their everyday life will construe the hypnotic situation as an opportunity to seek and demand support from the hypnotist.