What Is Hypnosis?

Hello everyone! This is Stalinlingus. Today, we’re going to talk about hypnosis. Ooooh… Spooky? I don’t think so. Let me say right away: if you think that by mastering hypnosis you’ll be able to shoot “fireballs of power” at everyone around you, I’m going to disappoint you—this isn’t the place for that. Hypnosis can be a helpful tool for manipulation, communication, self-hypnosis, or just for fun.

To be clear, when I talk about hypnosis, I don’t mean controlling someone or turning them into a zombie. I think that might be possible, but I honestly don’t know how. In my view, hypnosis is about guiding a person into a desired state, making them more receptive to what you say. By putting someone into a trance, you can plant your idea in their mind.

It’s also important to note that the effectiveness of hypnosis depends not only on your skill, but also on the subject’s suggestibility and the rapport you have with them.

Understanding Hypnosis: The Basics

Hypnosis can be described as an altered state of consciousness—trance, meditation, confusion, stupor, and so on. I’m convinced that our state of consciousness really does change under hypnosis, even though scientists still debate this. Whatever the experts argue about, I’ve realized that life is a constant change of states, and each shift affects our consciousness. Which changes are caused by trance is something each person decides for themselves.

More About Hypnosis (Warning: Copypasta Ahead!)

The brain operates at certain frequencies, which change depending on your state:

• Delta rhythm (0.3–4 Hz): The unconscious level. Seen during deep, dreamless sleep.
• Theta rhythm (4–7 Hz): Easy access to the subconscious. Occurs during deep meditation and REM sleep. In this range, the brain is most receptive and can absorb large amounts of information.
• Alpha rhythm (8–13 Hz): Calm wakefulness and relaxation. This level weakens or is blocked when mental activity or attention increases.
• Beta rhythm (14–30 Hz): Active wakefulness. Seen during emotional excitement, mental strain, and focused attention.

During calm wakefulness, the brain usually works at 13–15 Hz. Lower it to 7 Hz and you’ll fall asleep. Raise it to 25 Hz and you can trigger a state of overexcitement. A person can enter a light trance at the alpha rhythm level—in a relaxed, passive state.

For more detailed information, check out “Pautene”—you’ll find everything there.

The Technical Side: How Hypnosis Works

This article is mainly for general information—you won’t become a hypnosis master just by reading it, but you’ll get the basic idea.

There are different forms of speech that, when combined, create hypnosis. Here’s a quick overview:

1) Nominalization

Nominalizations are words that turn processes (verbs) into nouns. For example: “curiosity,” “hypnosis,” “learning,” “knowledge,” “love,” “relaxation,” and so on. These words are technically nouns, but they actually describe processes. Such words can put a person into micro-trances, since everyone has their own ideas about these processes and needs to immerse themselves in or mentally replay them at different speeds.

2) Vague Verbs

Using vague verbs (like nominalizations) forces a person to make an effort to assign meaning to them, and thus understand the statement. When someone hears words like “do,” “focus,” “decide,” “move,” “change,” “wonder,” “think,” “feel,” “know,” “experience,” “understand,” “remember,” “realize,” etc., they fill them with their own meaning, based on their life experience.

3) Deletion

In statements of this type, the main noun the phrase should refer to is completely omitted or missing.

Example: Some readers of this article are curious… (About what?)
What they’re curious about isn’t clear—that’s deletion.

Each of you can understand everything said here, filter it through your own life and time. We’re all brothers here, Pavlov’s Dogs! For examples of trance, check out fairy tales, Milton Erickson, Richard Bandler, or just watch the news!

All the best!
Stalinlingus