Hypnosis

1. Hypnosis is a state of human consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness and an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion.
2. Hypnotic induction is the process undertaken by a hypnotist to establish the state or conditions required for hypnosis to occur.
3. The role theory of hypnosis states that a hypnotized person is not actually in an alternate state of consciousness but is playing the role of being hypnotized, which includes complying with the instructions of the hypnotist.
4. The state theory of hypnosis describes hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness. According to this theory, real, significant changes in basic mental processes take place during hypnosis.
5. The dissociation theory of hypnosis contends that hypnosis is a splitting of the central control of thought processes and behavior with the hypnotized person agreeing to give some of the control to the hypnotist.
6. The American psychologist, Ernest Hilgard, was known for his his theory that a so-called hidden observer is created in the mind while hypnosis is taking, an idea in support of his neodissociationist theory of hypnotism.