Hypnosis is a trance-like state in which a person experiences heightened suggestibility. When a person is in this altered state of perception, it is thought that he or she can be guided to experience a reduction in pain, alter ineffective cognitions or beliefs, or remember forgotten memories, among other things.

Theories of Hypnosis

Three main theories of hypnosis exist: 

• Role theory is when a person is not actually in an alternate state of consciousness, but rather is acting out the role of a hypnotized person. 
• Altered-state theory occurs when a person is actually hypnotized and is therefore in a different, or altered, state of mind. 
• Dissociation theory states that hypnosis causes a person to actively or voluntarily split their consciousness. 

Controversy exists regarding which of these theories is true, and research has yet to illuminate exactly what occurs in hypnosis, or how.

Components of Hypnosis

There are three main components of hypnosis: 

• Absorption is the amount of investment a person has in the hypnotic state or hypnosis session. Generally speaking, the more suggestible a person is, the more he or she can dissociate and become absorbed in the task at hand. This is known as mental concentration.
• Dissociation is when a person's behavioral control is separated from his or her awareness. The individual in a dissociated state is likely to respond with autonomic, reflexive behaviors.
• Suggestion is the act of focusing the conscious mind on a single idea. A point person (usually the psychologist/hypnotist) guides the hypnotized person's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors, helping the person change ideas of their choice. It is important to note that suggestion is not the same thing as trance. A trance is when an induced mental state facilitates the acceptance of instructions or ideas.

Uses of Hypnosis

Hypnosis serves many purposes. It can be used for pain management when traditional methods do not seem to be working. For example, some women engage in what is known as hypnobirthing, thereby reducing the need for pain medication during labor. 

The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as hypnotherapy, while its use as a form of entertainment for an audience is known as stage hypnosis. Hypnotherapy has been used to address addiction, weight loss, fears and phobias, and to release repressed memories, which may have given rise to negative effects. Hypnosis has also been used to treat physical ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome and psoriasis, and it has been successfully used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. 

Hypnotic colors

The use of colorful images can help people relax into a hypnotic state.