Stage Hypnosis

To begin, I would like to state that I like stage hypnosis, unlike many other therapists, and from my experience and the hypnotic stage shows I have attended, I would have to say that most are quite respectable. Unfortunately the majority of the public gets their education about hypnosis from these shows, and end up with many misconceptions, so here below I am providing you with a little bit of background as to how a stage hypnotist has his subjects perform the way they do, and why they continue to put on the acts that lead people to believe many of the misconceptions about hypnosis such as loosing one's self-control.

We shall begin with the powers at work for the stage hypnotist. We are looking at a number of ingredients which allow the show to proceed successfully. To begin, hypnosis is still full of mystery even to those of us well trained and studied. To the general public though, the mystery of hypnosis is big, but not unlike much else which the public has little awareness of. For example, I am also licensed as an electrician, so I know how people fear electricity, especially if they have been zapped before, but electricity is very safe to work with when you know how it works.

Secondly, when people go to a stage hypnosis show they are there to have a good time, and are more often than not quite relaxed due to a little consumption of alcohol, which further reduces inhibitions.

Thirdly, the type of volunteer that normally rises up, is someone that enjoys being the centre of attention and is often quite extroverted. It would be interesting for a survey to be taken of such people, for I believe they would most likely have been the class clowns somewhat like myself.

Following this, the stage hypnotist will offer a few fake demonstrations to heighten the mystery and power behind the art of hypnotic suggestion. I say fake, because the performer will use natural laws of gravity which aren’t well known such as the vice grip, being tightened around the fingers. The crowd is asked to clasp their hands together tightly, then to hold two fingers apart while suggestions are offered that the fingers are being squeezed together. Here the audience believes the hypnotists suggestions are closing the fingers, when in actual fact it’s the tight grip of the hands that are bringing the fingers together, although I do believe the suggestions help.

Another example is that of the hypnotic sway test. A subject is told to stand up straight, close her eyes, and face her head to the ceiling. In such a posture one’s equilibrium is thrown off and the person sways back and forth. As this is happening, the stage hypnotist suggests that she is swaying back and forth in rhythm with her movement, and the subject believes it was the suggestion. Then the performer creates a “yes-set”, or increases his subjects acceptance of suggestion by beginning with easily managed directions and builds upon each success. As the performance continues, the subjects perform more incredible feats because they have to maintain the excuse as to why they followed the previous direction, so that any possible embarrassment can be attributed to the mysterious factor of the hypnosis.

I always volunteer for shows given the chance as a subject, because I think it’s a lot of fun. In my experience and the dozen or so stage hypnotists I have encountered, their training is minimal and their shows could be greatly improved if they learned some NLP or hypnotic language. Maybe it’s a good thing that most of them have limited training.

Clients will always have notions and fears because most people get their hypnosis learnings from TV, or stage hypnosis shows, so they only see one small side of what hypnosis might be without any full explanation. Having knowledge of how a stage hypnotist has his guests perform the way they do, allows a hypnotherapist to provide explanations to clients, and help alleviate fears of being controlled. Beyond that, having a knowledge of the few tricks used by the stage hypnotist which creates an expectancy could further help in a therapeutic setting, for we must remember that “belief” is one of the primary ingredients necessary for success with pretty well anything in life, and especially for that of hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

email: dr_frank@hypnoticadvancements.com

Mailing address:
Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)
Hypnotic Advancements
3126 McCarthy Court
Mississauga , ON
Canada L4Y-3Z5

© 2004, Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)

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