 Roots tied to Franz Anton Mesmer in 18 th century
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Mesmer believed he harnessed “animal magnetism”
Example:
Merely stumbled upon suggestion, or “mesmerism”
 James Braid- 1843
 Popularized term
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Interested in trancelike state that could be induced by mesmerists
Thought it could be used as anesthesia

 Hypnosis – Systematic procedure that typically produces a heightened state of suggestion
 General procedure:
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Usually, hypnotist suggests to subject that he or she relaxes
Hypnotist speaks softly telling them they are getting sleepy
 Gradually, most subjects succumb and become hypnotized
 Can everyone be hypnotized?
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10% of population do not respond at all
10% exceptionally good subjects

 1.) Anesthesia – Hypnosis can be surprisingly effective in treatment of acute and chronic pain
 Not widely used
 2.) Sensory Distortions and Hallucinations – Subjects may be led to experience auditory or visual hallucinations
 Ex.) sounds or smells not actually present

 3.) Disinhibition- Hypnosis can sometimes reduce inhibitions that would normally prevent people from acting in ways they see as immoral or unacceptable
 Ex.) some hypnotists get subjects to disrobe in public
 4.) Posthypnotic Suggestions and Amnesia – Suggestions made during hypnosis can influence later behavior
 Ex.) posthypnotic amnesia

 1.) Hypnosis as Role Playing
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Researchers find no physiological changes during hypnosis
Some conclude suggestible people merely act out role of hypnotized subject
 2.) Hypnosis as Altered State of Consciousness
 Effects attributed to special, altered state of consciousness
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Some feel it is doubtful role playing can explain everything
 Unlikely patients would endure surgery acting out role of hypnotized person
New research indicates changes in brain activity

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1.) Subjects are capable of saying no or terminating hypnosis
2.) Hypnosis does not necessarily cause people to remember more accurately
3.) Hypnotic suggestions can not enable people to perform otherwise impossible feats of strength, endurance, or mental acuity.

 Researchers conclude most dreams are relatively mundane
 Humans just more likely to remember more bizarre dreams
 Dreams are usually self-centered
 We dream about selves
 People dream about what is going on in own lives
 Examples
 Recent study suggests people may dream about matters they wish to forget
 What did researchers do?

 Western cultures largely write off dreams as meaningless and insignificant
 Many Non-Western cultures
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Dreams are important sources of info about oneself, future, or the spiritual world.
Some cultures view dream events as another type of reality that may be just as important
 Ex.) New Guinea Arapesh
 Some basic dream themes are universal
 Falling, being pursued, having sex

 1.) Sigmund Freud
 Wish fulfillment - People fill ungratified needs during dreams
 Ex.)
 2.) Problem Solving View- Dreams allow us to engage in creative thinking about problems
 Dreams not restrained by logic or realism
 3.) Activation Synthesis – Dreams are side effects of neural activation
 A story is created to make sense of neural signals