What Bernheim Really Said about Hypnosis

This short article provides some little-known quotations from Hippolyte Bernheim’s later writings in which the father of 20th century hypnotism makes it clear that he does not consider hypnosis to be in any way related to sleep but rather to be a general state of heightened suggestibility. Continue reading

Muscular Suggestion in Hypnosis and the James-Lange Theory of Emotion

The influential James-Lange theory of emotion has a precursor in the “muscular suggestion” technique of James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy. This article explores how Braid used hypnosis “from the outside in” to evoke subjective responses to physical manipulation. Continue reading

That Hypnosis Never Meant Sleep

It is a common misconception that hypnotism involves being asleep or unconscious. To some extent this is due to the fact that the word “hypnotism” comes from the Greek word for sleep. However, James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy, bemoaned this misconception himself and was emphatic that 90% of his patients were conscious during hypnosis. Continue reading

Did Hypnotism Originate as a Form of Meditation?

This short article explains how hypnotism actually originated, in part, under the influence of Oriental meditation techniques, described in the writings of James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy. Continue reading