Question

A friend tells you, "I once heard of a person who was murdered by being hypnotized and then told to jump from the Golden Gate Bridge" Could such a thing hove happened? Why or why not?

Short answer

No, such a thing cannot happen because hypnosis can't compel individuals to perform actions that are against their ethical beliefs or self-preservation instincts.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a trance-like state of heightened focus and concentration. While under hypnosis, a person might feel calm and relaxed, and more open to suggestions. However, it's important to understand that while under hypnosis, one still has control over their behavior.

Ethics and Control in Hypnosis

Hypnosis cannot compel someone to do something against their will or ethical beliefs. It's used in therapy to recover memories or change certain behaviors, like smoking or nail-biting, not to control a person's actions in a way that would harm them or others.

Hypnosis limitations

The claim that a person was hypnotized and then told to kill themselves involves a profound misuse and misunderstanding of hypnosis. If a suggested action clashes with the moral and ethical values of the person, even a hypnotized person would refuse to carry out such an action.

Key concepts

Understanding the Trance-like State

When we hear about someone being under hypnosis, we often imagine it as a state where they have no control over their actions, almost like sleepwalking. However, the truth is quite different. Hypnosis induces a trance-like state characterized by increased concentration and focus. It's a bit like becoming engrossed in a good book or movie; the person is aware but deeply immersed in the experience.

During hypnosis, while individuals are more open to suggestions, they do not lose consciousness or awareness of their surroundings. In fact, the trance-like state can actually enhance someone’s ability to recall events or sensations that they might not be able to access in their usual state of consciousness. This makes hypnosis a useful tool in certain therapeutic settings, such as helping patients manage pain or anxiety, overcoming phobias, or working through traumatic experiences. Despite common misconceptions, hypnotized subjects cannot be forced to act against their will or past their comfort zone.

Behavioral Control Under Hypnosis

It’s true that hypnosis can lead to changes in behavior, but it’s not the mind-control technique that movies and urban legends would have us believe. Under hypnosis, a subject can be more easily influenced and may respond more readily to suggestions, but this doesn't equate to a loss of personal agency or moral compass. Hypnotists can't just snap their fingers and override someone’s deeply held beliefs or convictions.

For example, suggestibility can be used in behavioral therapy to help someone quit smoking by reinforcing their own desire to quit. Such sessions operate on the principles of positive suggestion, working with the individual's existing wants to build healthier habits. The crucial point is that the change in behavior—a reduced urge to smoke, in this case—is coordinated with and approved by the client. Any attempt to use hypnosis to control someone to perform harmful acts, like the scenario described in the exercise, would likely be resisted, as it goes against the person’s survival instincts and moral principles.

Ethics in Hypnosis

The field of hypnosis, especially when applied therapeutically, is bound by strict ethical standards. These are similar to those in other areas of healthcare and psychology. Ethical practitioners of hypnotherapy understand that the trust and safety of their clients are paramount. They ensure informed consent is obtained, which means that clients are fully aware of the nature of the hypnosis process and what it entails before they begin.

Moreover, hypnotherapists are prohibited from using their influence to harm or deceive their clients. The suggestion that hypnosis could lead someone to commit an act of extreme self-harm, such as jumping off a bridge, violates fundamental ethical guidelines and the understood limitations of hypnosis. It is crucial for the layperson to know that ethical hypnotherapists aim to facilitate positive change in a manner that respects the autonomy and well-being of their clients. Any suggestion that deviates from this purpose would contradict the professional standards of practice and the moral obligations of the hypnotist.