Techniques on How to Hypnotize

The general public often thinks of hypnotism as a form of entertainment, and, in fact, many hypnotists make a living as professional entertainers. Hypnotism, however, has therapeutic, medical and research values as well. The basic principle involved in hypnotism is that the subject is guided by suggestions in order to alter her perception, sensations, attention and emotion. The debate is whether hypnotism operates on a heightened sense of consciousness or on the unconscious.

Affirmation

• Hypnotists use affirmation techniques to create a bond with the subject that makes the subject more susceptible to hypnotic suggestions. The underlying principle is to praise the subject and develop their sense of identity, self-confidence and self-belief. The hypnotist praises and congratulates the subject for successfully following individual commands by saying things such as "That's right," "good," and "excellent." This builds the subject's sense of confidence and encourages them to continue.

Fixing Attention

• Fixing attention is one of the techniques most popularly associated with hypnotism. The purpose of the technique is to center the attention of the subject so that she is not distracted. The technique involves asking the subject to pay attention to a particular object or activity. It should not require too much effort or thought on the part of the subject to comply with the suggestion. Examples of the technique include holding a finger or pen in front of the subject's eyes. Slowly move the object back and forth and ask them to follow it without blinking.

Linking

• The linking techniques works on the principle of association. Consciousness works by making associations and connections. The subject follows a gradual process of cause-and-effect suggestions made by the hypnotist. The principle is that if a person believes or accepts something, they are more inclined to accept or believe another thing that is connected to it. The linking technique makes use of words such as because and therefore. For example, the hypnotist may say "As your arm relaxes, your shoulder will follow."

Progressive Relaxation

• Progressive relaxation is another technique that is commonly associated with hypnotism. The principle of the method is to give the subject a concrete activity to concentrate on. This helps the subject to focus and keeps her from being distracted during the hypnotism process. The hypnotist commands the subject to relax one part of her body at a time. The method may go from the top down, or from the bottom up. For example, the subject is commanded to relax a certain part of her face or the soles of her feet.