Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [hypnotism]

the study or practice of hypnosis.

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Are participants in stage hypnosis part of the show?

Are the volunteers actually part of the performance (i.e. paid or in other ways compensated) to perform like chickens etc., or is it actually possible to hypnotize people in the short space of time that is given?
Chris S
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Can an average person be involuntarily hypnotised?

Often hypnotism is accomplished by convincing an audience member to play along, or by selecting out someone who is suggestible. Can an average person be involuntarily hypnotised? Update: Let us assume that the situation is as follows. A man is…
Casebash
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Is hypnotherapy an effective treatment for addiction, anxiety, phobias and other psychological disorders?

According to this article found on the University of Maryland Medical Center website: ...problems or conditions that may respond to hypnotherapy include: Irritable bowel syndrome, Tension headaches, Alopecia areata, Asthma, Phobias,…
Ami
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Does staring at a flame slow brain activity?

I was looking for an answer to this question on the tubes and I was amazed to discover an impressive set of completely crap answers to this question. Photo by kayaker1204. Creative Common License. After a long search, the closest I could find to an…
Sklivvz
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Has there ever been a case of a Manchurian-Candidate-style sleeper agent?

Pretty popular in fiction is the sleeper agent who is "activated" by a particular phrase, picture, or sound, and who then carries out a pretty complex mission or terroristic act. Are there any real world examples? I'm pretty sure the actually…
Dogmafrog
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Is it possible to cause a skin burn by telling a hypnotized subject they are touching a hot object?

I've read somewhere long ago that the following suggestibility experiment was performed: The experimenter asks the subject to hold their palm open, then tells them: "I'm going to put a very hot coin in your palm, and I want you to hold it for as…
Dan Dascalescu
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Is stage hypnotism a trick?

Possible Duplicate: Are participants in stage hypnosis paid stooges? I ask this after watching a recent Derren Brown (UK stage magician and hypnotist) TV program in which he sets out to discredit faith healers, yet trains his accomplices in…
fizzer
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Can "hypno programming" force someone to kill someone else?

From Convicted RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan seeks prison release: Sirhan "was an involuntary participant in the crimes being committed because he was subjected to sophisticated hypno programming and memory implantation techniques which rendered him…
user792
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Can a hypnosis audiobook induce epileptic seizures?

I noticed a warning on a hypnosis/self-help audiobook that read as follows: Warning: This audiobook contains powerful techniques. Do not listen if you suffer from epilepsy. My inclination is to believe this is simply a marketing tactic to…
michaelmichael
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Can hypnosis be a contributing factor to suicide?

A Florida school district has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle a case involving a principal who hypnotized students, three of whom died shortly after (some from suicide). Many of the reports in the media include statements drawing a causative link…
ff524
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Does an Erikson handshake induction induce a cataleptic trance?

One element of misdirection used by magician Derren Brown is to apparently place subjects into a catatonic state with the use of flashing lights or physical manipulation of the hands or arms. For example, in this video, at about 2:10, Brown appears…
philosodad
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Did this hypnotist accidentally leave participants 'in a trance'?

Is this just a lazy publicity stunt (intended or otherwise)? "Hypnotist's Mishap Leaves People In Trance" Via Sky News I'm sceptical of hypnosis, but haven't seen anything definitive either way.
James
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Does hypnosis have a 93% recovery rate after 6 sessions?

This blog seems to be the origin of a quote that has been widely copy-pasted by many hypnotherapists: American Health Magazine reported the following findings from a recent study. • Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions • Behavior…
Ken Y-N
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Can chickens be hypnotized by drawing a line in front of them?

It's commonly said that if you hold a chicken's beak to the ground and draw a straight line in front of it, it will stare at the line and not move. There's no shortage of footage on youtube to prove that it does seem to work. But have any scientific…
Jack M
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Did Dave Elman contribute to an open heart surgery with hypnosis as the only anesthetic?

Colonel H.L. Elman (Dave's son): Among my father's many accomplishments, one that I treasure is the story of the man who was too weak for ANY of the many kinds of anesthesia drugs available in the 1950's. This man required open heart surgery…
Christian
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