Smoking Facts and Fiction

1) You can be hypnotized and do things against your will.

“Hypnosis is not mind control. It’s a naturally occurring state of concentration; it’s actually a means of enhancing your control over both your mind and your body.” – Dr. David Spiegel, Assoc. Chair of Psychiatry Stanford University School of Medicine

The simple fact is that although you subdue the critical censor and speak almost directly to the subconscious mind, people will not respond to suggestions that are against their most deeply held moral beliefs. For example, some people are frightened that while they are unconscious (they’re not unconscious – see below), they might be taken advantage of sexually or in some other way, but they are at all times conscious and aware and in control of what is happening. Any attempt to force them to do something against their strongly held beliefs will result in them coming out of hypnosis immediately.

People will not do under hypnosis something that they wouldn’t readily do while in their normal state of consciousness.

2) Under hypnosis you are unconscious

This is not the case. Hypnosis is an altered state of mind in which the subject is in a state similar to daydreaming. You are at all times conscious and aware and in control of what is happening to you, and you can come out of hypnosis anytime that you choose.

3) Only weak minded people can be hypnotized

The opposite is true. Generally more intelligent people are easier to hypnotize, possibly because they have a greater ability to inwardly visualize and not be distracted by other thoughts.

4) You can get stuck in Hypnosis

This is impossible, if the hypnotist dropped dead after inducing the trance you would either come out of hypnosis by yourself or drift off to sleep.

5) You can be made to reveal embarrassing secrets

This is false for the reasons given above. You are aware of what is happening and can not be forced to do things against your will.

6) If you can hear the Hypnotist you weren’t hypnotized

People experience hypnosis in different ways. Hearing and remembering what the hypnotist said to you is completely natural, hypnosis is not sleep, it is an altered state of consciousness. Although you may not have felt hypnotized, the hypnotist can usually visually see the physical changes, and of course your modified behavior is the ultimate proof.