Hypnosis as a Guided Meditation - Essay Example

Reasons Why Some People Are More Hypnotizable Than Others Number: Introduction Hypnosis is a complex word that psychologists do not have any agreed up definition. However, one of the most popular definitions of hypnosis is that of Roy Hunter that defines hypnosis as a natural state of mind that is induced by the experiences that one goes through on every day activities. In simple terms, hypnosis can be defined as guided meditation that is brought about by many factors. Hypnosis has a very long history that can be traced back so many decades ago with Franz Anton Mesmer (who introduced the theorem of Animal Magnetism) being considered as the grandfather of this controversial topic (Nevid, 2012). Nonetheless, the topic has so many contentious issues such as the causes and reasons as to why some people are more hypnotizable than others. This research paper will answer this question while quoting reliable sources and theories. Various research studies have been conducted in the past relating to this topic in attempt to establish causes of hypnosis and factors that make different people have different responses to it. There are also so many ongoing studies on the topic though no reliable solutions have been achieved. Among the most recent and most recognized study on the topic include a study that was conducted on October 2012 by the Archives of General Psychiatry, which gave some light about what may be causing some people to respond or not to respond well to hypnosis. The study examined 24 participants using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with the participants being analyzed while rested on a scanner. According to the participants’ responses to Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP), it was found that half of the participants were highly hypnotizable while the other half was less hypnotizable The research on hypnosis has intensified as a result of valuable evidence that shows that hypnosis has measurable and real effects on both mind and human body. It is a very crucial element that is applied in various areas like in the medical sector whereby medics can use hypnosis to examine patients’ unconsciousness, in attempt to establish whether past events that the patient had encountered had attributed in any way to the problem he or she is experiencing. It is also a very useful instrument during counseling especially in the 21st century since psychologists have found hypnosis to be a powerful tool for controlling anxiety, pain, and other symptoms. However, determine the reasons why some people are more hypnotizable than others have remained to be a puzzle and a debatable topic (Hoeft, Haas & Spiegel, 2012). There are factors that are said to be causing difference in the way different people respond to hypnosis. Difference in the brains functionality is among the popular theorem that has been quoted in various studies. According to the 2012 Archives of General Psychiatry research study, it was confirmed that persons who were found to be highly hypnotizable had a relatively greater purposeful connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlpc) and the left dlpc, which is a vital part of the executive control network. Moreover, it was found that there was a significantly higher connectivity between dlpc and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, which is a crucial part of the salience network (Hoeft, Haas & Spiegel, 2012). Executive-control network is very essential in working memory, decision-making, paying attention and in planning. The salience network on the other hand is crucial in detecting, filtering necessary information about what is going on the human body as well as in the emotions. It also helps in integrating relevant information about the body and mind. Human beings are able to identify the most significant internal and external stimuli as a result of the salience linkage. It makes one attend those stimuli of a much importance thus generating the most appropriate behavior in response. However, the findings were still debatable since the study showed that there were no important differences with regard to the brain structure of the two groups, despite having differences in brain functionality. Moreover, the research study was relatively small thus limiting generalizability of its findings. The conclusion of the study was that persons with better coordination between the brain area that integrate attention, emotion, intention, and action. Beliefs are also major factors that differentiate the way different people respond to hypnosis. According to the psychology of beliefs, there are many factors that make some people more hypnotizable than others. According to these principles, one’s beliefs significantly determine his or her ability to meditate and believe in imageries that do not exist. This affects both the intelligent and the non-intelligent persons though its logic that intelligent beings are not likely to believe in superstitions and other paranormal beliefs (Fromm& Shor, 2009). According to a study that was conducted in 1974 by Georgia high-school seniors, students with higher IQ are less superstitious compared to students with lower IQ (Pintar & Lynn, 2009). In 1980, another study conducted by psychologists James Alcock found that believing in paranormal phenomena was directly correlated with lesser critical thinking skills. Other studies conducted in the same topic and have produced similar results include the 1989 Messer and Griggs studies that found that people who had confidence/trust/belief in some superstitious phenomenon were more hypnotizable than those who did not(Hyde, 2005). Studies have shown that the level at which some people respond to hypnosis significantly depends on their gender. Controversial studies have shown that women/females are more likely to hypnotized compared to men or males. However, there has not been any clear and widely acceptable reasoning behind this finding. Nonetheless, this is believed to be a natural phenomenon though some people associate this with the element of belief whereby women are found to easily believe and trust other people and superstitious phenomenon compared to men. Though there is no clear explanation on this issue, women have been found to be more hypnotizable compared to men (Blair, 2004). Age and state of health of an individual are also other major defining factors that differentiate the way different people respond to hypnosis. The elderly and young children are more likely to respond well to hypnosis compared to the middle-aged persons whose brains are still fresh and active. According to the normal daily experiences, children are more hypnotizable compared to adults, an element that some psychologists associate with the issue of brain development. Brains of the young are weak and undeveloped thus more prone to superstitious meditations. In addition, different people respond to hypnosis differently depending on the weakness/strength or rather the health of their brains. Healthy persons are less likely to be hypnotized compared to persons with mental or physical body health challenge (Turkington & Harris, 2001). This concept can also be used to as a reason to why children are more hypnotizable compared to adults. Brains of the young are weak and undeveloped thus making them more hypnotizable. Other factors that have been mentioned in a number of studies include sense of empathy, expectation off benefit, focus, attention, health of an individual, as well as absorption, even though evidence to prove these elements has been inconsistent. One’s ability to focus and pay attention to a happening determines his or her ability to respond to hypnosis. As a matter of fact, paying attention or rather eye fixation is one of the most popular techniques that are used to induce artificial hypnosis. This method is very common in Hollywood movies and was also very popular in the 19th century (Turkington & Harris, 2001). However, not every person can apply this technique. Different people have different abilities of applying this method. As a result, it be suggested that the level at which an individual can become hypnotized highly depends on his or her ability and to gaze and pay attention. In conclusion, hypnosis has remained to be a complex topic despite the numerous studies that have been conducted in the past and others that are currently been undertaken. It has been proven that different people respond differently to hypnosis though there has not been any agreed upon reason to support why some people are more hypnotizable than compared to others. However, some of the most the mostly suggested reasons is the element of difference in brain functionality with some controversial studies showing that people with better coordination between the brain area that integrate attention, emotion, intention, and action are more hypnotizable than those with a poor coordination. Ability to respond to suggestions, beliefs, as well as expectations of people has also been mentioned in numerous studies as a key determinant that differentiates the level of hypnosis between different people. In case of an artificially induced hypnosis, persons who respond nicely to the suggestions made by the therapists tend to respond better than those who do not. Other possible factors that cause difference in the way different people respond to hypnosis include the elements of empathy, focus, attention and expectations of the respondent though evidence to prove them has been inconsistent. Moreover, age, gender, and health of an individual are also suggested in a number of studies References Blair, F. R. (2004). Instant self-hypnosis: How to hypnotize yourself with your eyes open. Naperville, Ill: Sourcebooks, Inc. Carlstedt, R. A. (2010). Handbook of integrative clinical psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral medicine: Perspectives, practices, and research. New York: Springer Pub. Co. (Carlstedt, 2010) Fromm, E., & Shor, R. E. (2009). Hypnosis: Developments in research and new perspectives. New Brunswick [N.J.: AldineTransaction. Hoeft, F., Haas, B. W., & Spiegel, D. (2012). Functional Brain Basis of Hypnotizability. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(10), 1064-1072. Hyde, L. (2005). Hypnosis. Great Britain: Vibritannia Nevid, J. S. (2012). Essentials of psychology: Concepts and applications. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Pintar, J., & Lynn, S. J. (2009). Hypnosis: A Brief History. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Turkington, C., & Harris, J. (2001). The encyclopedia of memory and memory disorders. New York: Facts on File. Read More