Science Confirms The Obvious: Not Everyone Can Be Hypnotized

"...Those people more apt to be hypnotized show more activity in areas of the brain associated with executive control and attention, while those showing less activity in those areas cannot be put into a hypnotic state..."

It seems this sentence implies the higher intelligent people can be hypnotized, while the rest of us dumber folk who will not comply with the hypnotizer demands upon on us, are just stupid.

Personally, I think a person is pretty smart, to know when not to be manipulated and just take charge of their own decisions.

At least in Star Wars, any good Jedi worth his salt, knows it is easy to take control of the weak minded, lol.

I think you have it mixed up. "More activity in areas of the brain" was linked to an INCREASE in "hypnotizability", while DECREASED brain activity made it HARDER to be hypnotized.

http://www.baileypoint.com

I quite agree Robot. It seems that the people with increased passivity would be easier to hypnotize but that shouldn't mean they are smarter. SolusCado, pretty sure you're the one who got Robot's post backwards.

Perhaps were all must missing extra info from this article and it's a matter of understanding the correct perspective with the right info.

First, higher executive function and attention do not equal intelligence, so Robot's conclusion is based on a false assumption. The heated characterization of hypnosis as involving compliance by "dumber folk" suggests that Robot might be threatened by the idea of being hypnotized. It does usually take some form of cooperation, but that is different from simple compliance. (Hypnotists of the old-fashioned authoritarian "just do everything I tell you to do" school have unfortunately created this false impression.)

Chezmanq proposes a completely unfounded connection between passivity and hynotizability---which has nothing to do with the reported research and is in any case completely wrong. Hypnosis is a highly active mental state.

Aside from that, how are you supposed to "prove" such a thing as that a certain kind of person can't be hypnotized? All they "proved" is that some people weren't hypnotized under certain conditions on a given occasion and that correlated with something. It neither proves that they can't be hypnotized under other conditions, etc., nor that the correlation indicates a causal relation. Yes, there are a few people, mostly those with extremely low intelligence, who cannot be hypnotized. It is, however, usually the imcompetence of the hypnotist that causes failure to be hypnotized.

It is true that if you are preoccupied, sleep-deprived, drunk (in other words, suffering froma diminished ability to concentrate), you may find it harder to be hypnotized. You would also find it harder to solve a logic puzzle or read a book. (I don't mention ADHD because that diagnosis is often logically circular.)

If I had a nickel for every person who told me they couldn't be hypnotized---both before and after I hypnotized them . . .

dezama125,
Yes many politicians, conmen, sales man those individuals that just so easily project a clear confidence to the world, tend to hypnotize others to follow them off the edge of a cliff. With that, in society there are those who are easy followers, sheep that trust and go ever so willing, la la la.

There are things in life I am afraid of (snakes), but still I try to keep a healthy bit of skepticism and not to sheepish behavior for me, sir.

Your comments are interesting tho. ;)

Oh, have I been fooled in life. Yes, with regret all to often too. Sh#t seems to happen in life to all, lol.

As a clinical certified hypnotherapist, I can tell you that most of what you think you know about hypnosis, has nothing to do with the reality of hypnosis.

My experience is that the more intelligent and more creative a client is, the easier they can go into that very relaxed, trance like state known as hypnosis.

I can also tell you that during hypnosis, it is the CLIENT not the HYPNOTHERAPIST who is in control of what the client actually does.

Can hypnosis be used to do bad things? Absolutely. You can also use psychology, medicine or even a Saturday morning cartoon to do bad things. That is why it is important to make sure that you are working with ethical professionals.

As far as who can and cannot be hypnotized...

After seeing hundreds of clients, I have yet to have anyone in my office who was unable to be. Some just get there a little faster and easier than others.

Hypnosis is a powerful fantastic tool that has allowed millions to experience change in their lives that they never would have been able to other wise. It's important to note -- those are changes that THEY WANTED, not a hypnotist.

This world would be a much better place if far more people used the power of hypnosis to take a little mental vacation, relax a bit and make some changes.

-Colin Chapman
www.joyofhypnosis.com

@ robot, hypnosis is between two consenting people. The subject is aware they are going to be hypnotized and willingly opens their mind to suggestion.

cblaskoski,
Simuliar to one person asking something of the other person and the other person says yes. Wow, goosepumps, what science this is! ;)

I believe it has to do with the act of hypnotism itself. I have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. My particular case involves memory, attention, and focus. I therefore cannot control my focus, this doesn't mean I cannot focus but rather that it reacts to extreme levels. Sometimes I cannot seem to focus no matter how hard I try, other times I focus so hard I cannot stop and see the other things around me, the only thing I can perceive is what I am focusing on. This is called hyper-focus. Therefore I probably could not be hypnotized because I would not be able to clear my mind and focus on the person or object trying to hypnotize me, my thoughts would be extremely random (scatter-brained). However if I could go into a hyper-focused state then hypnotism would actually be easier on me than most others, due to the fact that I am only focusing on one thing in the universe and that would be whatever caused me to go into this hyper-focused state. A good example is this, I have trouble learning because I cannot seem to focus on what I read, therefore I tend to not retain (remember) very much, but if I am reading for fun then I tend to go into a hyper-focus state and not only can I retain it I would almost say I memorize it without trying, during this time I tend to speed read. While I am in a hyper-focus state I can read up to 500 pages a day with ease. The only problem is I cannot control it, it tends to only happen with things I am extremely excited about.

@Robot I think it should be clarified to "Not everyone who willingly tries to be hypnotized, can be hypnotized". As @cblaskosi said, "hypnosis is between two consenting people".

You might not be able to be hypnotized simply due to the fact that you do not want to consent to it. You try it, but during the entire process you reject it. It doesn't mean that you do not have executive control and attention, but rather you do not wish to hand your control and attention for hypnosis.

I don't think accepting or rejecting the process signifies intelligence in any way.