Does hypnosis exist?

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Postby Jae » May 17th, '07, 16:26



I've replied to your PM but for everyone else...

Don't dust off your black suits so quickly. Alex Smith simply declared that his pseudonym "Revd Dr Jonathan Royale" had been killed off and he was reverting back to his real name... but retaining the "Dr" and "Revd". That was back in April, since then he has resurrected "JR" for a couple of seminars and DVDs!!!

I can't comment on the man himself as I've never met him and don't know him apart from seeing a couple of his DVDs. He does hold himself up with a massive ego, has some views and an attitude which I can easily see being disliked and a marketing approach many into used cars, timeshare or Watchdog would recognise. That said, amid the rubbish and hype he does have some very upfront thoughts and is very willing to share them... for a price.

I consider myself intelligent and worldly wise enough to see him as what he is so sit on the fence unwilling to either defend or attack him. He can do that for himself I'm sure.


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Postby mark lewis » Jun 5th, '10, 04:07

I just came across this old thread. I think it is worth reading and very educational for those of you who want to know about so called "hypnosis"

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Postby TonyB » Jun 6th, '10, 21:05

I don't know why this old chestnut is being roasted again, and I don't have the patience to read through it. But I will answer the question.
No, hypnosis does not exist. Or if it does it has nothing to do with a performance of stage hypnosos. It is all social compliance. That view is based on more than a decade of performing experience.

I am sure Mark agrees.

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Postby mark lewis » Jun 6th, '10, 22:56

I decided to roast the old chestnut because on reviewing the thread I though there was a lot of valuable information in it. And it does show that the majority view that hypnosis exists does not have unanimous agreement.

I believe it is more than social compliance even though that is certainly a part of it. I believe there are other factors involved and the most important one is that of self delusion. In other words many of the subjects actually believe they have been hypnotised and in fact actually con themselves that something is happening to them. And of course they are the best subjects.

I believe panic attacks and agaraphobia have the same origins but that subject is outside the scope of discussion.

The bottom line is that stage hypnotism is bunkum. Odd that every single hypnotist I know who operates or has operated in Ireland believes this yet the majority of others all over the world think the opposite.

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Postby Bertoneski » Jun 17th, '10, 00:27

I have recent watched the Manchurian Approach and watched Chris Harding being hypnotised by Anthony Jacquin.

If Chris Harding would care to comment I'd love him to share his experience of what he thinks went on.

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Postby Beardy » Jun 17th, '10, 01:01

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428160113.htm

Interesting read if you have 30 seconds :)

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Postby mark lewis » Jun 17th, '10, 02:20

Of course hypnosis is a delusion in itself so who knows? Perhaps it takes one delusion to cure another.

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Postby Jacquin » Jun 18th, '10, 15:30

Bertoneski wrote:I have recent watched the Manchurian Approach and watched Chris Harding being hypnotised by Anthony Jacquin.

If Chris Harding would care to comment I'd love him to share his experience of what he thinks went on.


I am sure if you give him a call at Alakazam he will let you know. Although I hear he is rather bored of people shouting sleep whenever they place an order :)

Prior to filming the Manchurian Approach Chris came on my course as a paying punter. He displayed his prowesss as a subject there too and wrote a review of his experience.

http://www.magicweek.co.uk/magic_review ... proach.htm

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Postby Wishmaster » Jun 18th, '10, 23:30

I have a diploma in clinical hypnotherapy and was absolutely convinced of the existence of hypnosis, until I read one particular book on the subject: Monsters and Magical Sticks.

It really shocked me that some of the observations in the book were so obvious, yet I'd missed them completely. I'm on my second outing with this book and it has to be close to the top of my list of recommended reads on the subject of hypnosis. A word of caution though. It's definitely not a book for beginners.

Does hypnosis exist -yes or no? After reading this book, I'd have to say no.

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Postby Jacquin » Jun 18th, '10, 23:47

It is a great book.

I suggest you also find some time to read 'The Highly Hypnotizable Person'. The title does not suggest it, but this is a book written by those with a scientific interest in the subject. Experts from the social dynamics field to those with a neurological bent get an opportunity to lay out their evidence for the phenomena of hypnosis.

I have a lecture coming up this Sunday on the subject of magic and hypnosis. If you fancy being in the audience then contact Tom at academyofmagic. A clip about it can be found here
http://www.academyofmagic.com/

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Postby mark lewis » Jun 19th, '10, 12:37

I would also suggest reading "They Call it Hypnosis" by Robert Baker. He makes a convincing case that hypnotism is a load of old cobblers.

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Postby Jacquin » Jun 19th, '10, 13:15

You can get a lot of leverage out of cobblers. Thanks for the recommendation Mark.

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Postby Wishmaster » Jun 19th, '10, 14:09

Thanks Anthony, I haven't seen this book before. It's on my Amazon list.

I'd love to attend thank you, but Sunday is father's day, so I have my orders to be at home! :D

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Postby themagicwand » Jun 19th, '10, 14:43

When we ask whether hypnosis exists or not, I think we are missing the point. The point, surely, is whether the subject believes hypnosis exists or not.

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Postby mark lewis » Jun 19th, '10, 15:12

Some of the subjects do indeed think they have been hypnotised. There are, after all, lots of daft people in the world. Now if you want to say that this self delusion in itself is hypnotism be my guest. In otber words if you con yourself that you have been hypnotised then by all means say that is hypnotism if you want to.

One of the greatest stage hypnotists of the 20th century, Paul Goldin told me that the state of "hypnotism" did not exist. If anyone knew he certainly did. After all if you read his learned articles on the subject you would think he actually believed what he said. Of course he didn't. He told me privately it was all bunkum. Once I realised it was a load of old nonsense my hypnosis career took off splendidly.

This is why I find the present laws and restrictions in the UK concerning hypnosis to be completely laughable. How can something that doesn't actually exist be dangerous? I got the law changed in Canada. Perhaps I should come over to Blighty and sort them out in a similar manner.

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