James Braid’s Discovery of Hypnosis

Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy’s Return to the Original Hypnotism

 Originally published in Changes magazine, Summer 2009

www.anglo-american.co.uk

The Return to Traditional Hypnotism

Over the past few decades there has been an increasing shift toward cognitive-behavioural theory and practice in the research literature of modern hypnotherapy.  This can be seen as something of “back to basics” approach and a return to the more down-to-earth origins of hypnotherapy.  Although hypnotism has often been associated with pseudoscientific and paranormal theories, it actually originated out of a sceptical approach to psychology called the Scottish school of Common Sense, which dominated British philosophy in the mid-nineteenth century. 

The Real Hypnosis

Many people still believe that hypnotism originated in the work of Franz Anton Mesmer.  However, Mesmer never actually hypnotised anyone.  His many followers emphasised the notion of “animal magnetism”, a supernatural force emanating from the body of the mesmerist.  However, their claims were widely rejected and repeatedly debunked.  James Braid introduced the term “hypnotism” in contrast to “mesmerism” to describe the opposing view: that the effects upon their patients were due to ordinary psychological and physiological factors such as relaxation, focused attention, and suggestion, etc.  From the 1840s onwards, Braid’s hypnotism gradually eclipsed mesmerism in popularity and became the basis of modern hypnotherapy. 

Popular Misconceptions

Throughout the twentieth century, hypnotism became confused in the public imagination with notions derived from mesmerism.  The most common fallacies about hypnosis are that it is a state of unconsciousness and that the subject is completely under the control of the hypnotist, who can make him do what he wishes.  Research has shown that holding these misconceptions actually makes people less likely to benefit from hypnosis.  However, these are both notions derived from mesmerism.  Braid tried to refute from them by emphasising that in his “hypnotism” subjects remained conscious nine times out of ten, and that their consent and collaboration was required.  Indeed, Braid soon concluded that his method of hypnotism bore considerably more resemblance to meditation than to mesmerism, and that it was largely self-induced by the subject focusing their attention upon a single dominant train of thought, and doing so with the expectation of producing certain responses. 

Hypno-CBT^® & Evidence-Based Practice

Braid passionately emphasised the scientific approach to hypnotherapy.  He based his own method upon well-established or common sense principles such as the effect of expectation and vivid imagination, the role of social imitation, and the power of focused attention to increase the effect of certain dominant ideas.  These are also emphasised in the modern cognitive-behavioural theory of hypnosis.  Braid’s down-to-earth approach therefore provides an ideal foundation for modern scientific study of hypnosis and practical hypnotherapy. 

            A hypnotist who has never read James Braid is a bit like a psychoanalyst who’s never read anything by Sigmund Freud.  Anyone with an interest in modern cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapy, such as our own Hypno-CBT^® approach, should start by reading about the “common sense” origins of hypnotism.  It’s remarkable that most of Braid’s writings have been out of print since his death, especially his more mature writings which are most relevant today. 

Author

Donald Robertson is the editor of The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid, the Father of Hypnotherapy, published this year by the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) and available from Anglo-American books.  Donald is the principal of The UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy. 

www.UKcognitive.com