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Suggestibility

Next we consider suggestibility, an area where underbrush may make the trail more difficult to follow. Like awareness, suggestibility is an element of day by day living which becomes distorted in the process of hypnosis.

Leader and subordinate

In every social group a leader naturally arises. Lesser leaders accept this authority and direct still others, thus establishing a 'pecking order" or chain of command. Yet each Member of a group generally determines his or her own course of action. The Bible supports this principle condemning insubordination and implying that leaders are ordained by God. (See Romans 13:1 and Matthew 22:21).

Leadership and authority depend on society. Even animal societies operate by this principle. Hypnotic submission resembles voluntary submission to leadership, except that it distorts the normal relationship between supervisor and subordinate.

Let's consider some basic ideas about suggestibility to see how this relationship is affected by hypnosis.

Suggestion and suggestibility

Suggestion, or the offering of ideas is the fundamental method of teaching. It aids experience in the process of learning. "Therapeutic suggestion " attempts to improve troublesome thought patterns or to revise distorted view points. Hypnosis, although not necessarily a tool in therapeutic suggestion, is sometimes used in an attempt to eliminate resistance and achieve uncritical acceptance.

Suggestibility is the normal capacity to accept or respond to suggestion. It varies in intensity from indifference to unquestioning obedience. The greater the suggestibility, the less discrimination and deliberation occur in accepting suggestion. Important in this discussion is the boundary where normal suggestibility blends into the hyper-suggestibility of hypnosis. Normally a person retains and exercises discrimination and self-control but in hypnotism, this important capacity is surrendered.
 
 

Normal response to suggestion

Throughout nature individuals tend to follow those who demonstrate initiative and communicate suggestion. Group response to suggestion is seen in 'herd instinct. " For instance sheep tend to follow a leader; and a herd of cattle stare at a stranger until one of them runs. Then, acting on that suggestion, the entire group runs in the same direction. A slight disturbance sends a school of fish streaking through the water, not in random confusion but in a protective pattern. ln most societies, when two people meet and one extends his hand, the other tends to complete the handshake. Thus suggestibility makes an orderly society possible.

Conversion and the limits of normal suggestion

In evangelism the Holy Spirit influences individuals and brings conviction to their hearts. His human agents cooperate by the sanctified use of suggestion. Thus, through music prayers, and exhortation, God's Spirit prepares the audience for the altar call. When an appeal is made, listeners are led to crystallize and confirm a decision which previous study has implanted. The public declaration of surrender to Christ strengthens the will and helps the worshiper remain loyal.

On the other hand, abuse may occur in the name of evangelism. Individuals or groups may be hypnotized in a public meeting. Some believe that Adolph Hitler dominated the German people by mass hypnotism. Rock concerts wield a similar captivating power.

The process of conversion is discussed at length by William Sargant in his book, Battle for the Mind(1). In his foreward he suggests that conversion, whether religious, political, or intellectual, involves alteration of basic attutdes, beliefs and concepts. This change in loyalty may be based on logical study and discovery, or it may come through suggestion when the brain function is severely disturbed. The intense stress associated with the disturbed brain function seems to produce a stirring up or "liquification" of the underlying background of accepted information against which incoming ideas are weighed. Suggestions made while the mind is in such a state of flux may influence this background reference area to resettle into new patterns of accepted basic 'truth Thereafter, incoming ideas are measured by these revised standards.

So-called brainwashing exceeds the normal use of suggestion. Under such severe stress, many are induced to endorse values which they had previously opposed. Without resorting to stress, hypnotherapists often hope to achieve a similar result by implanting suggestions while discrimination and cautious resistance are reduced or eliminated by hypnosis.

Reference

1. William Sargant, Battle for the Mind: A Physiolodoy of Conversion and Brain-washing, Doubleday Company, New York, 1957.

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