 Hypnosis is a state of focused concentration of the mind often brought about by relaxation and suggestion. There are two offical definitions of this term:British Medical Association, 1955: "A
temporary condition of altered attention in the subject which may be
induced by another person and in which a variety of phenomenon may
appear spontaneously or in response to other stimuli. These phenomena
include alterations in consciousness and memory, increased
susceptibility to suggestion, and the production in the subject of
responses and ideas unfamiliar to him in his usual state of mind.
Furthermore, phenomena such as anesthesia, paralysis and rigidity of
muscles, and vasomotor changes can be produced and removed in the
hypnotic state." American Psychological Association The Official Division 30 Definition and Description of Hypnosis: "Hypnosis
typically involves an introduction to the procedure during which the
subject is told that suggestions for imaginative experiences will be
presented. The hypnotic induction is an extended initial suggestion for
using one's imagination, and may contain further elaborations of the
introduction. A hypnotic procedure is used to encourage and evaluate
responses to suggestions. When using hypnosis, one person (the subject)
is guided by another (the hypnotist) to respond to suggestions for
changes in the subjective experience, alterations in perception,
sensation, emotion, thought or behavior. Persons can also learn
self-hypnosis, which is the act of administering hypnotic procedures on
one's own. If the subject responds to hypnotic suggestions, it is
generally inferred that hypnosis has been induced. Many believe that
hypnotic responses and experiences are characteristic of a hypnotic
state. While some think that it is not necessary to use the word
"hypnosis" as part of a hypnotic induction, others view it as essential." The precise hypnotic procedures and nature of suggestions will differ depending on the
goals of the practitioner and the purposes of the clinical endeavor. Hypnotic processes traditionally make use of suggestions to relax, although
relaxation is not absolutely necessary for hypnosis and some suggestions can make the patient more alert.
Suggestions that permit the extent of hypnosis to be assessed by
comparing responses to standardized scales can be used in both clinical
and research settings. While the majority of individuals are responsive
to at least some suggestions, scores on standardized scales range from
high to negligible. Traditionally, scores are grouped into low, medium,
and high categories. As is the case with other positively-scaled
measures of psychological constructs such as attention and awareness,
the salience of evidence for having achieved hypnosis increases with the
individual's score." (http://www.apa.org/divisions/div30/define_hypnosis.html)
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