Chapter 5: Hypnosis (3)

Define HYPNOSIS

“Systematic procedure that
typically produces a
heightened state of
suggestibility.”

Susceptibility

Hypnotic ability is normally
distributed

Associated traits:
• absorption, imaginativeness, rich fantasy life

What hypnosis can do

• Alleviate pain
• Sensory distortions
• Treatment of hypertension, migraines, allergies

What hypnosis cannot do

• Age regression/ Regression into past lives
• Make people act against their will
• Recover lost memories

Role enactment theory

Hypnosis is a normal mental state in which suggestible people act out the role of a hypnotic subject.

Hypnosis as an altered state

● Special sate of consciousness.
● Changes in brain activity

Unification

Hypnosis= Alterations in consciousness also influenced by role expectations.

Define Meditation

Group of practices that train attention to heighten awareness and bring mental processes under greater voluntary control

Types of Meditation

1) Focused attention:
• Zen, transcendental meditation (TM)

2) Open monitoring:
• Mindfulness meditation, Loving-kindness meditation

Benefits

Attention, emotional, physical, psychological

Evidence

Training of executive functions:

Supported by brain imaging studies/ structural and functional changes in the brain with experienced meditators.

EEG studies

Increase alpha and theta brain
patterns

Physiological Evidence

Lower stress response/ Greater pain tolerance

Long term gains

• Cognitive
• Emotional (e.g. anxiety; mood disorders)
• Mainstream application for mental and physical health