Scientific American :: The Truth and the Hype of Hypnosis
Article

> During hypnosis, it is as though the brain temporarily suspends
> its attempts to authenticate incoming sensory information.
> Some people are more hypnotizable than others, although
> scientists still don't know why.

I was thinking about this very subject not too long ago. Why would staring at a swinging pocketwatch elicit this particular response? I couldn't quite conceive how leaving oneself completely susceptible to the influence of others would be adapative -- at least, in this absurdly specific way. I googled hypnosis, but the only site I found on the first page of results that wasn't selling hypnosis-related services or merchandise was howstuffworks.com. Their explanation conformed to most my suppositions on the subject -- they make it out to be a more or less advanced form of zoning out. Probably another one of those unintended consequences of an overclocked brain.

Still, I wonder how deeply the studies mentioned in this article examined the influence of social perceptions -- and social distinctions -- in hypnosis. I'd be surprised to discover that most middle-class Americans aren't more readily hypnotized by anyone with a deep voice and commanding manner than by a real expert who dressed as a migrant worker and had a squeaky, uncertain voice. (I suppose most of us are willing to reveal or do many things for Dr. Phil that we wouldn't for Mr. Phil.) I'd also be curious to know how the hypnosis figures break down along gender lines. I'd be surprised again to discover that, on average, hypnotic states are not more easily induced by men (trained hypnotists or not) than women. And I'd be shocked if professional male hypnotists did not vastly outnumber women.
posted by Tomohiro Idokoro @ 6:31 PM

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