HypnoseMentor https://hypnosementor.nl/en/ Excellent in hypnose opleidingen Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:07:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 104846533 Breakthrough in hypnosis research with revelation of two hyposis states https://hypnosementor.nl/en/breakthrough-in-hypnosis-research-with-revelation-of-two-hyposis-states/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/breakthrough-in-hypnosis-research-with-revelation-of-two-hyposis-states/#respond Fri, 22 Dec 2023 04:40:53 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/breakthrough-in-hypnosis-research-with-revelation-of-two-hyposis-states/ The University of Zurich, in collaboration with OMNI Hypnosis International / Hypnosis.NET GmbH, has published a groundbreaking study that sheds new light on how our brain experiences hypnosis. This research, part of the HypnoScience® project, is a major step forward in the understanding and acceptance of hypnotherapy in society and medicine. Two Different Hypnotic States...

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The University of Zurich, in collaboration with OMNI Hypnosis International / Hypnosis.NET GmbH, has published a groundbreaking study that sheds new light on how our brain experiences hypnosis. This research, part of the HypnoScience® project, is a major step forward in the understanding and acceptance of hypnotherapy in society and medicine.

Two Different Hypnotic States Pictured

The study, conducted with 50 healthy and hypnosis-experienced subjects, shows that hypnosis leads to specific changes in the brain’s functional connectivity. The results show that hypnosis is not only visible and measurable in the brain, but also that at least two different hypnotic states exist (Somnambulism1 and the Esdaile state2). This is the subject of controversial debate in the scientific community, and the results significantly expand our understanding of hypnosis. In addition, there is generally little consensus on the neural mechanisms of hypnosis – again, the study makes a valuable contribution and contributes to the discussion of what brain regions might be involved when a person is hypnotized.

Standardization and Reproducibility

OMNI hypnosis inductions, based on the methods of Dave Elman and Gerald Kein, have been scientifically validated. The results obtained are extremely robust; hypnosis can be observed through the altered functional connectivity in the brain. In other words, you can see in the MRI scanner when the brain is in hypnosis. The data show that the states of Somnambulism1 and Esdaile2 are reliably achieved with our standardized and reproducible methods, even in difficult scanner environments (small spaces, noise, etc.). This is of great importance because in previous studies there was much inconsistency and a lack of coherent methodological standards, often leading to heterogeneous results. The precisely standardized OMNI hypnosis inductions, which can be reproduced by any trained OMNI hypnotherapist, will solve this problem in the future.

Comparisons to Propofol and LSD

Interestingly, the subjects in Somnambulism (1) showed similar patterns in some areas of the brain as those in whom anesthesia was induced with Propofol. In hypnosis, however, you are always fully conscious, so the states are not comparable. Propofol is said to have a relaxing and euphoric effect, a perception also often experienced in hypnosis.
In the Esdaile state (2), subjects often reported altered body perception or a complete “disconnection” from the body. Apparently, these perceptions are associated with altered coupling mechanisms of the cortical somatosensory integration systems in the brain, as is often found in states of consciousness induced by LSD (and other drugs). The authors point out that further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

1) Somnambulism: A deep state of hypnosis, which is a prerequisite for modern and revealing hypnotherapy (Regression to Cause), as well as for enabling pain-reducing sensations (hypno-analgesia), dental work or pain-free childbirth.

2) Esdaile state: A very deep state of deep hypnosis in which a mental euphoria can be experienced and, among other exciting effects that have not yet been studied, a complete absence of pain is automatically achieved (hypno-anesthesia). The Esdaile state can be used in the treatment and counseling of burnout clients, in pain management and in general recovery work. In addition, major surgical procedures can be performed without the use of pain medication or chemical anesthesia

Significance for practice

These results have a direct impact on our practice and training methods; they reinforce the effectiveness and scientific nature of our approaches and open new avenues for the use of hypnosis in medicine and therapy, making hypnosis an important tool in modern health care.

Link to the survey: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1286336/full

If you want hypnosis training with a solid scientific foundation, sign up for OMNI hypnosis training.

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In hypnosis or under hypnosis? https://hypnosementor.nl/en/in-hypnosis-or-under-hypnosis/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/in-hypnosis-or-under-hypnosis/#respond Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:58:23 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/in-hypnosis-or-under-hypnosis/ “Veurstell’n in Zenuwslaap” Dutch dialect meaning giving suggestions to the subconscious. Would it make any difference whether you talk about under hypnosis” or “in hypnosis”? You would say you do because certainly in hypnotherapy it involves subtle suggestions and so what you say and how you say it is important. Language as a healing medium...

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“Veurstell’n in Zenuwslaap” Dutch dialect meaning giving suggestions to the subconscious.
Couple in love on pen drawing in love
Two souls, one language, together one story Picture postcard USA, ca. 1925 Own collection

Would it make any difference whether you talk about under hypnosis” or “in hypnosis”?
You would say you do because certainly in hypnotherapy it involves subtle suggestions and so what you say and how you say it is important.
Language as a healing medium is centuries old. Think of healing words ranging from the gentle whisper of a grandmother to the evocative words of a therapist. In the Dutch tradition, the art of “reading” has been a part of popular culture for hundreds of years. This practice seems to be a forerunner of structured modern techniques such as hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming and current comfort talk.
‘Belezen’ refers to a form of folk medicine that was and is still practiced mainly in the northern, southern and eastern parts of the Netherlands. It consists of reciting spells or prayers, whispered or otherwise, to cure ailments, such as removing warts, reducing fevers or as protection against disease and other mischief.

In rural areas, the native language was prevalent and dialect was used in treatments, strengthening the personal connection with the patient.

In the Netherlands, reading developed as a mixture of pre-Christian and Christian rituals.Although modern medical science labels these practices as superstitions, readers were respected and sought out in many communities for their ability to help with ailments for which traditional medicine had no answer.

The power of regional variations

The sayings and prayers used by readers vary by region and are often rooted in the local dialect. A particular spell in Gronings may differ greatly from a similar spell in Twents. Many people are convinced that the local dialect enhances the power of an incantation or spell.
When you hear something in your own language, it often feels more familiar and convincing which makes the reading work better
The same goes for the spells and prayers that the patients themselves say. Many dozens are known against hiccups alone. In Over-Flakkee, when a hiccup attack occurs, they say:
‘Hiccup, hiccup, spray,
I give the hiccup to you,
I give the hiccup to Master Jan,
Who can handle it well.’
Often, local circumstances play a role. In coastal areas, hiccups are often given to the sea. On the Flemish seacoast , they say:
I and the hiccup
Go across the sea
I see myself again
But hiccup no more
(Three times)
And in North Holland, also by the sea:
Me and the hiccup
Went across the sea
I returned
And the hiccup stayed there.,
Rotterdam is best known for its many large transshipment ports:
Ikke pikke prou
I give the hiccups to you
I give the hiccups to another person
Who can endure the hiccups
Antwerp, also a port city, has several variations on this where the hiccup is passed on to someone else who can handle it better.
Often you have to recite the spell three times; sometimes just quickly and sometimes without hiccups.

The early years of hypnotherapy in the Netherlands

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a turning point for hypnotherapy in the Netherlands. Two approaches emerged during this period: the scientific and experimental in urban areas and the traditional, often deeply rooted in folk medicine in rural areas. This involved language but also other regional cultural practices.
In cities, especially Amsterdam and The Hague, hypnotherapy was seen as a new and exciting field within medicine. Dr. A.W. van Renterghem and Frederik van Eeden with their hypnotherapy institute in Amsterdam, and Dr. Arie de Jong in The Hague were forerunners of that modern movement. While Van Renterghem, as a rural general practitioner, was accustomed to Zeeland dialects, in Amsterdam he had to deal with general civilized Dutch or even French and German.

Authoritarian language?

With the development of Dutch hypnotherapy also came the question of how best to formulate and express suggestions.
Because of their different view of man and society, this led to discussion between the young class-conscious van Eeden and the experienced patriarchal general practitioner Van Renterghem. The men had learned from Liébeault and Bernheim the authoritarian so-called command suggestion. Van Eeden believed that this mode of suggestion was useful for treating the uncivilized, children and docile individuals but that it does not work with more civilized people. They don’t want to be ordered around and don’t want to accept anything on authority, according to the Bussummer. Understandable, since van Eeden found his patients mainly in the educated writers’ world and among the inmates of his Walden colony.
He thought that among the civilized class, psychotherapy was unpopular because they do not understand and therefore do not trust it. They do not consider her a matter of authority and, as independent people, do not want to be commanded. Van Eeden wanted to abandon the system of authority and supremacy and learn to heal suggestively without increasing suggestibility. He had the most success with the ‘undeveloped’ and the very intelligent and explained this by: The former believe in the superior wisdom of the physician and this confidence makes authority superfluous, the latter are convinced by giving them a concept of suggestion, of ideoplasticism. According to van Renterghem this could be true, but most people do not belong to either of these two categories and the therapist is therefore mainly dependent on his knowledge of people and tactful action: “My experience teaches me that the trust of and consequently the authority over the patient can best be gained by showing him the necessary sympathy with his suffering, by listening to him calmly and if one is convinced by a careful examination that healing or improvement is possible, to make this clear to him according to his understanding, to speak to him in an encouraging way. “Moreover,” said van Renterghem, “most of our patients are old cases, nervous sufferers who have already tried everything and, as a last resort, seek refuge in the hypnotist. In many, the symptoms of illness are of an autosuggestive nature and their disbelief in medicine is great.Therefore, it is impracticable to cure them by psychic means without the help of the suggestion sleep or, in other words, increasing suggestibility.” Therefore, he strived for the deepest possible sleep although good results were also achieved with lighter sleep states.
Van Renterghem: “The vast majority of patients come with the preconceived idea that they only have a chance of healing if they enter deep hypnosis, and therefore it is useful to point out to them the large number of patients who healed by suggestive means without ever having had the sensation of hypnotic sleep.”

Stokvis (1937) emphasizes that suggestion works best when accompanied by attention to personal presentation: ‘This includes not only external care such as clothing and body care, but also extends to posture, behavior, facial expression, eye contact, tone of voice and sign language. Word choice and fluency also play a role. Specific phonetic nuances, such as monotone or lively speech, intonation, pronunciation and rhythm, as well as dialect and accent, all contribute to the efficacy of suggestion.’
In addition, there were other cultural differences between rural and urban areas such as reimbursement for hypnotic treatment. Van Renterghem recounts in his autobiography that in about 1878 he established a health fund in Heinkenszand and the surrounding area for “the little ushers, shopkeepers workers etc. In exchange for the fund tokens, he gave medical aid and medicine: ‘by this I was able to restrain a custom of paying the doctor with such foods as potatoes, peas, beans, hams and sausages, rather than in money. Payments with crafts, handicrafts or other services were also common in rural areas.
The ailments and treatments for which patients came also differed.
While urban hypnotists often dealt with neurotic symptoms, stress or psychosomatic complaints, the focus in rural areas was mainly on physical ailments such as pain, insomnia or digestive problems.

The language of therapy

The modern therapist must navigate cultural and regional differences during therapy. With the steady stream of migration and regional variations in the Netherlands, it is increasingly challenging for hypnotherapists to communicate clearly. Understanding and appreciating the cultural background of both the patient and the hypnotherapist is essential to the success of therapy. Cultural values, beliefs and norms influence the way individuals experience pain, illness and healing. They can also play a role in how willingly someone participates in certain therapies and what they think of them.
If the therapist does not understand his patient’s cultural beliefs and values, this can lead to misunderstandings, resistance and treatment failure.

A cartoon featuring a cop apprehending a sleepwalker
Nieuwe Haarlemsche courant 04-02-1931

This was evident when a young Afghan man, recently moved to Amsterdam, sought help from a hypnotherapist there for his anxiety symptoms. The man has experienced things in the war and also has to adjust to a new way of life in another country.
Afghan culture has beliefs around mental health and healing that may differ from Western understandings. During their first meeting, the therapist learns about the possible stigma surrounding mental health care in Afghanistan and the cultural interpretations of trance and dreams. With this knowledge, he adapts his techniques and language. Without this cultural sensitivity, the patient might feel misunderstood and uncomfortable, resulting in less effective treatment.

Language is the primary tool by which the hypnotherapist and patient communicate both consciously and unconsciously.
A patient who suffered trauma in a shipwreck is of little use in therapy if the therapist uses words or phrases, such as “safe haven” or “calm waters,” to evoke a sense of safety and calm during the session. In contrast, for a patient whose native language is Frisian, the use of a few Frisian words or phrases during the session may provide familiarity and comfort. Cultural and regional differences in language and expression can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. What is considered a comforting expression in one culture or region may be felt completely differently in another context.This is of all times. Class differences also determine mutual language and thus the degree of understanding and acceptance by patients. Fine examples of this can be seen in older literary works. Where hypnosis still primarily served the well-to-do, the somnambulas or sleepers were mainly active in the lesser neighborhoods of major cities. S. Abramsz in his story “Medical Advice” (In Living Images, Sketches from the Capital, c. 1909) sketches such a séance in which a mother is worried about her infant daughter. The somnambule puts mother and child at ease:

“…children should be cheerful. Shall we go on a ride together now? By train? Well, off we go: Shh … shh … shh … shh … shh … Just like the locomotive, right? … … Shh … shh… shh. We’re here. Now back: Shh … shh …shh … shh … shh … shh … pen drawing women with child and sick womansch …. So now we’re back with the lady. Did you enjoy it, girl? Fun, darling? Again? Shh … shh … shh … shh … wo-o-o-o-ah! Oh, dear, she’s such a little raisin bun, such a lovely little darling…”
But then, suddenly serious. “But then, suddenly serious, “Well, ma’am; would you please hold the child again? No, not you; the mother herself; it’s better for the magnetic flow, you see? And now we’ll proceed with the activities. You’ll see that I do it entirely without a magnetizer. I put myself to sleep. I’ve practiced it, you know. Works just as well. You must watch closely when I sleep to see if I write a prescription; you see, it’s as if it’s given to me… Alright, let’s begin…”
Even in satirical stories, the language difference occurs. Donkersloot emphasizes its existence:
“Mr. Dorus, former body magnetizer of the Pacha of Egypt, announces to his honored fellow-citizens and countrymen, that he has made an agreement with the, by all doctors and professors highly praised dormitory Madame Tobeia, whose incomparable clairvoyance has already restored health to so many a weak, even incurable sufferer. To speak daily; and if the patient can’t come, a worn hat is also good. Letters postage paid”

The somnambulist in question wonders how Dorus acquired the abilities of a magnetizer and how she herself suddenly became clairvoyant.:

“I’ve experienced a lot in the world and, as they say, am not easily startled, but still, when I read the newspaper, I saw stars before my eyes.
When had Dorus, who had lived continuously in Utrecht for twenty consecutive years, been to Egypt, a country that perhaps no longer exists? How can these doctors and professors speak of my clairvoyance when I have never been tested? Which ‘patients’ have I healed, when no one has ever called upon my help? And why call me ‘Madam’ when I wasn’t even a ‘miss’? I posed all these questions to my partner, who fobbed me off with the answer that I would hear even stranger things before I understood the art.
The hardest part for me was learning the magnetic language, i.e., understanding my master well when he asked me questions while I slept, and questions in which my answer was already implied.
It is impossible for me to tell you much about this, but I will give you some examples: Madamwas stomach,madam was intestines, To was eye, beia was mouth, Tobeia was head, ‘sharp view’ meant pain, a couple of stomps with the foot meant palpitation…”

Stories about magnetizers and somnambulism occur in most Dutch dialects. Achter den Waaldijk (1938) is set in Tiel and is about Farmer Geurt and his servant attending a performance by the stage hypnotist Bert Astron…:

Geurt was a sturdy, progressive farmer who kept up with the times and wanted to see for himself what this ‘devil’s charlatan’ was all about. “— But Piet, have you perhaps been under hypnosis too?
— Under hypnosis, Truly boss, there you have it. Now that I think about it, that guy also made me go through those arts after he looked at me so intensely, and afterwards, I always felt drowsy in my head. . I only felt better when I put my head under the pump.
— Under hypnosis, You, who the day before yesterday was so adamant that it didn’t exist and wanted to say that I was just pulling your leg… So now you do believe in it?’
it?’ — Do I believe in it? It’s a disgrace that such guys are allowed to roam free, that’s what I say. They should lock them up in prison or in Meerenberg because it’s outright witchcraft what that guy does to a person! And even if I could earn fifty guilders with it, they’ll never get me to go there again if that guy performs, I’ll tell you that.”

In “De Fryske Thyl Ulespegel or De wonderlike libbensskiednis fan Hantsje Pik” (1872), magnetizers are also mentioned:

“….. And if it turns out that the thing started, and the magnetizer came to Sloppegea, then I thought it a good thing that Jitse wasn’t involved. In my eyes, it was of great importance that everything went on without him. 240 Welmoed said she would keep everything to herself and think about how best to deceive Jitse if needed. Then we agreed that I would take a day off to look for the magnetizer in Leeuwarden. And once I had settled things with him, I would send her a note letting her know when she could expect us…”

The play by teacher P. Duynhoef “Sjappie Een spel uit de Bossche achterbuurten.” (approx. 1930-1950) was successful. In this, the class and language differences are clearly expressed: The main character, Sjappie, ends up in prison because of Zwarte P, who pretends he can hypnotize:

“…Kat (The third boy):” Yes, yes, yes, I had told my mother that the Black one always hypnotized me …”

More hypnosis in dialect can be found in “The Power of Mesmerism, Het Texelsch Volksleven, (1865); “Geesten” (1907, Rotterdam); “Te Laat! (1870, Katwijk) Keetelaar Oarend Spook (1894 Zutphen et al.); Oaver ‘t Magnetisme en ‘t Bijgeleuf En vertellingsken van Meister Maorten Baordman (1847, Harfsel/Gorsel Gelderland:)

Returning to the question “in hypnosis” or “under hypnosis.

Much of the confusion and misunderstanding surrounding hypnosis stems from miscommunication. Although the terms “under hypnosis” and “in hypnosis” seem superficially similar, in practice they carry different perceived values.
Hypnosis is often compared to sleep, and it makes it clear how big a difference it makes when an everyday phrase like “falling asleep” is mistaken for “falling asleep. For many people, the phrase “under hypnosis” suggests some form of outside domination or influence, while “in hypnosis” implies active participation and a personal experience.
Hypnotherapy is all about helping people feel stronger and more in control of their own lives. When we say “being in hypnosis,” it is as if you yourself are actively participating in a special way of thinking or feeling. That’s different from ‘being under hypnosis,’ which sounds like something just happens to you and you can’t really do anything about it.”
Such linguistic nuances can significantly affect a client’s experience. Being “under hypnosis” can cause fears of loss of control, false expectations or a passive attitude during sessions. Language and clear communication are not only crucial in preventing misunderstandings, but also promote the success and quality of the therapeutic relationship.
In certain dialects, the terms “under hypnosis” and “in hypnosis” may have such strong regional coloring that they contribute to misunderstandings or stigmatization of hypnotherapy practice. In some cultures, “being under hypnosis” may be seen as a weakness or susceptibility to external influences, while “being in hypnosis” may be perceived as more neutral or even positive.
Some words can even lead to complete misunderstanding. Westerkwartiers, a dialect spoken in southwestern Groningen has no hypnosis but speaks of nerve sleep. A suggestion is called a “veurstel” in Western dialect, and to suggest is thus “veurstell’n.
Folklore researcher J. Rasch recorded a folk saying about self-suggestion in 1935 that says, “Imagination is worse than third-day fever. With that opinion, a hypnotherapist will achieve little if he encourages his patient to use his imagination!
Dutch is far from homogeneous. The great variation is already apparent when we listen to the neatest forms of “it” Dutch in the Netherlands and in Flanders. The Meertens Institute countshundreds of dialects with many words of their own. It noted the following variants for the word psychologist: psycholooch (Frisian); spychologist (Leids): spiegeloog (Evergems); spiechologist (Kaatsheuvels); zedenpreker (moralist) (Amsterdams); Zieleknieper (Hoogeveen); mirror eye (Utrechts)
When it comes to dialects, it would be best for a hypnotherapist to first ask what words or expressions a person likes. That way, the therapy feels more familiar to the patient and gets him excited. Some examples include:

  • Fries: “With which words or expressions do you feel better? Do you feel better with ‘under a spell’ or ‘under suggestion’?”
  • Westerkwartiers: “With which words or expressions do you feel better? Do you feel better with ‘in a hypnotic state’ or ‘under hypnosis’?”
  • Brabantian: “Which words or expressions do you feel comfortable with? Do you feel better with ‘being enchanted’ or ‘possession’?”
  • Twents: “Which words or phrases do you feel better with? Do you feel better when ‘in hypnosis’ or ‘under hypnosis’?” (No specific Twente term known)
  • Gronings: “With which words or expressions do you feel best? Do you feel better with ‘in hypnosis’ or ‘under hypnosis'” (No specific Groningen term known)
  • Limburgs: “Which do you prefer: ‘in hypnosis’ or ‘under hypnosis’?
  • Street Language: “What words or phrases do you chill with the most? Do you chill more with ‘in trance’ or ‘under trance,’ you know?”

Literature

Abramsz, S. Medical advice in: ‘Levende beelden Schetsen uit de hoofdstad’
z.j. (ca. 1909), P. van Belkum, Zutphen,
Baordman, Maorten Oaver ‘t Magnetisme en ‘t Bijgeleuf En Vertellingsken van Meister Maorten Baordman
1847, Geldersche Volksalmanak, 1 ed.
Brusse, M.J. Spirits
1907, W.L. & J. Brusse, Rotterdam, 1 ed.
Buysse, P. Too late! from Leunemaet, De dorpsschipper en zijne twee huwelijken 1870, Gebr. V.d. Hoek, Leiden
Donkersloot, N.B. Uit het dagboek van een slaapster z.g. somnambule
1871, J.C. Loman Jr., Amsterdam
Doorne, J.H. van & J. Feith, Achter den Waaldijk Humor van het platteland
1938, A. van Loon, 1 ed.
Duynhoef, P. Sjappie Een spel uit de Bossche achter-buurten in vier bedrijven
g.d., Tooneelfonds, Kinheim, 1 ed.
Dykstra, Waling, De Fryske Thyl Ulespegel, or De wonderlike libbensskiednis fan Hantsje Pik
1862, T.Telenga, 1 ed.
Keetelaar, Oarend Spook Novelle
1894, Zutphensche courant
Rasch, J. Nederlandsche Folklore Gebruiken Gewoonten Volksgeloof Uitdrukkingen
1935, Kluwer
Renterghem, A.W. van Autobiographie 2 volumes
1993, BTTE Zeeland Gazet, 2 ed., ca.1600 pp., Original (10 ex.) 1924-1927.
Stokvis, B. Hypnose in de geneeskundige practijk
1937, De Tijdstroom, Lochem

©2023, Johan Eland

Note of translator:  Some of the translations, especially the rhymes, are made to convey the meaning rather than maintain their poetic nature. In many cases, cultural rhymes and sayings can’t be translated perfectly, but the goal here was to keep the meaning intact. The translation aims to keep the tone and feeling of the original text, but due to the nature of the Dutch language and its idioms, some phrasings might feel a bit different in English. These are direct translations, and some contextual nuances might be lost in the process. For the Dutch or dialect check this link.

 

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The gentle forces will surely prevail https://hypnosementor.nl/en/gentle-forces-will-prevail/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/gentle-forces-will-prevail/#respond Wed, 09 Aug 2023 08:39:43 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/the-soft-forces-will-surely-win/ The rise of “gentle” treatment methods in health care, such as hypnosis, shows a striking parallel to poet Henriette Roland Holst’s statement, “The gentle forces will surely prevail.” This approach increasingly emphasizes noninvasive techniques, which help with pain management, behavior modification and treatment of mental illness. This article explores the emergence and recognition of hypnosis...

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The rise of “gentle” treatment methods in health care, such as hypnosis, shows a striking parallel to poet Henriette Roland Holst’s statement, “The gentle forces will surely prevail.” This approach increasingly emphasizes noninvasive techniques, which help with pain management, behavior modification and treatment of mental illness. This article explores the emergence and recognition of hypnosis as a valuable tool in health care, where it is a mild alternative to conventional treatments.
While not a panacea, the gentle power of hypnosis is proving to be a valuable complement to traditional treatments.

Henriette Goverdine Anna Roland Holst-van der Schalk,or “Aunt Jet,” (1869-1952 was a prominent Dutch poet and socialite.

The gentle forces will surely prevail
in the end – this I hear as an intimate whisper
in me: if it were silent all light would dim
all heat would stiffen inside.

The powers that love still encircle
it will, progressively advancing, overcome,
then the great bliss can begin
Which w’as our hearts listen intently

in all tenderness hear murmurs
As in little shells the great sea.
Love is the meaning of “life of the planets.
And people and animals. There is nothing that can interfere
‘t rise to her. This is deeper knowing:
To perfect Love everything rises with it.

Verzonken grenzen (1918)

“The gentle forces will surely prevail,” is the first line of a poem by Henriette Roland Holst (1869-1952). It emphasizes the power of gentleness and its healing effects. It expresses how gentleness and stillness are able to calm restlessness and bring hope and peace to our minds.
Visual of a weapon being broken“The gentle forces will surely prevail” also means that soft, subtle methods are ultimately more successful than harsh and violent approaches. Therefore, it became a widely quoted statement especially in antimilitarist circles, and from 1957 by the Pacifist Socialist Party.
Roland Holst wrote it in 1918. It was just after World War I and at a time when industrialization and technical development meant that there was less and less regard for the individual human being. Even in the medical world but also, for example, in parenting and education, dominant natural scientific ideologies, techniques and methods seemed more important than the individual.

The problem of stuttering

Illustrate of incision of the tongue root
Incision of the tongue root Source: J.M. Bourgery, ca. 1840

How scientists sometimes handled the feelings and interests of individual patients we see in the experiment with stuttering children that went down in history as the Monster Experiment’.
That in the 19th and 20th centuries many people resorted to hypnosis is understandable if you knew what you could face with regular treatment. Patient muteness had not yet been invented, and doctors could initiate treatment at their discretion. Those treatments were diverse and not infrequently experimental. What to do if you fell into the hands of Prussian surgeon J.F. Dieffenbach, who in the 19th century tried to treat stuttering by making an incision in the root of the tongue, with mostly disastrous consequences for the patient. [1](Bobrick, 2015 Metz, Rik, 2016,)
Or what about the idea of a school for “speech-impaired children” as proposed by the “Mother of Dutch speech therapy” singing and speaking pedagogue Branco van Dantzig (1870-1942). This school was to provide extra support and help to children with speech impairments, such as stuttering, on the other hand protect children who do not stutter. A recurring idea in those years was that stuttering was not only hereditary but also contagious. And so stuttering children had to be kept away from non-stuttering children.

The ‘Monster Experiment’

As with so many problems in children, there was a theory to prove that parents were to blame for stuttering. American professor Wendell Johnson believed that stuttering did not have physiological or neurological causes and thus could not be found in the stutterer’s body or brain. Stuttering, he said, was learned and caused by the environment.

One piece of evidence Johnson saw in the fact that there are significantly more male than female stutterers. After all, men in the Western world bear the yoke of expectation; they are expected to perform more. Whether unconsciously or not, parents transfer this pressure to their offspring and are therefore more likely to see speech problems in the child. This is what the Dutch speech therapist Mes meant when he wrote in the 1920s: “By correcting or ridiculing, which unfortunately parents and educators today often still consider as a pedagogical measure, the child is first rightly made aware of his mistake, which hitherto he was not aware of. (Knife, 1927).

The Monster Study

In 1939, student Mary Tudor sought evidence for Johnson’s theory with an experiment with 22 orphans from Davonport, Iowa (USA).
She wanted to find out to what extent the environment plays a role in the development of stuttering in young children. The children were labeled by the orphanage to indicate whether they stuttered.
Of the 22 children, 10 were classified as “stutterers” by their supervisors. The remaining 12 children were fluent speakers.
Tudor put together four groups. Groups 1A and 1B each consisted of 5 stutterers. The other 12 children (groups 2A and 2B) did not stutter. Speech was spoken to and practiced individually with each child for about three quarters of an hour.
Group 1A, labeled “stutterers” were told by Tudor that they were not stutterers but “normal speakers” who were mistakenly called “stutterers.
Group 1B, also five children labeled “stutterer” were introduced to their stuttering.
The six children in Group 2A, were not confirmed as “stutterers” but heard that they went through different stages of fluency. Their stutters did have hiccups typical of stuttering. Group 2B consisted of six children of the same age, sex, intelligence and with the same speech rate as the children in group 2A. They were not given a negative label (Tudor, 1939).

The children in groups 1A and 2B were told from the beginning that their speech was excellent and were regularly complimented on their pronunciation and fluency. They were also told not to care what others said about their speech. They were allowed to be satisfied with how they spoke. ‘You’ll grow out of it. ‘It’s just a phase, so don’t pay attention to what others say about your fluency.’

Things were different in groups 1B and 2A. These children, including stutterers and non-stutterers, received ongoing severe criticism of their speaking skills and pronunciation. They were told that they had a speech problem and that they needed to do something about it as soon as possible. The stutterers in the group were used as negative examples.
‘You see him, you don’t want to talk like that, do you?’
‘The way you’re talking now, that’s how it started with him once. Make sure you don’t do that too.’
‘Never speak unless you are sure you can say it well.’

After six months, three of the four groups showed no substantial changes. In groups 1A and 2B, the “stutterers” continued to stutter and the non-stutterers continued to speak fluently. So the positive approach had worked, according to Tudor, because there were no negative effects. There was also no deterioration or improvement among the stutterers in group 1B. Thus, the negative feedback they had received had no direct effect on their speaking.
Among the non-stuttering children in group 2A, a clear negative change in their personality was evident and their speech anxiety took on frightening proportions. Some of them then fled the orphanage. Mary Tudor, who continued to visit the children regularly after the experiment ended, wrote to Wendell Johnson that she thought children would recover, but that the researchers had certainly made a deep impression on the children.
Tudor and Johnson concluded that their experiment was successful and clearly proved Johnson’s hypothesis, that stuttering does not start with the child, but with the environment. Those “stutterers” who were approached positively continued to stutter, as did those who received negative feedback. The most significant result was found among non-stutterers who received negative feedback. The children in group 2A showed a sharp decline in self-esteem, self-confidence and increasing speech anxiety. Johnson’s thesis seemed proven: a child does not stutter by himself, but only starts doing so when his environment labels him negatively.

Critique

Johnson and Tudor did not disclose the results favorable to them. It was the 1940s, after all, and reports of experiments conducted on children by the Nazis put the whole approach in a bad light. Only years later did a journalist bring out the investigation report and unleash a storm of criticism as yet. Johnson and Tudor were blamed for misinterpreting their results and especially for not paying enough attention to the impact of their research on children’s mental health. The orphans were chosen simply because they were easier to “use. Neither the facilitators nor the children had been told anything about the purpose of the study. They had even been lied to.
In 2007, the judge vindicated the six still living participants in the experiment in their charges that they had been psychologically harmed. The now senior citizens claimed to have had speech anxiety all their lives after the experiment. Together, they were awarded nearly $1 million in damages. (BBC, 2007). The research, titled “An experimental study of the effect of evaluative labeling of speech fluency,” went down in history as the “Sample Experiment. (Rik Mets)
The sample experiment is just one example of many in which technique, theory or method are deemed more important than the interests and feelings of patients. We know from history such things as hysterectomy, lobotomy and painful surgeries without anesthesia.

A broader shift

The transition from surgical procedures to more psychologically oriented treatments such as hypnosis is part of a broader shift in the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses in particular.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the medical community began to recognize the limitations and harmful effects of physical interventions for mental illness. At the same time, new psychological theories and treatments began to emerge. One of the pioneers in this field was Sigmund Freud, whose work on psychoanalysis changed the way doctors viewed mental illness. Freud and his colleagues frequently used hypnosis in their treatments. They saw hypnosis as a means of accessing a patient’s unconscious and discovering there hidden traumas and conflicts that were at the root of their symptoms. Thus, the idea that hysteria and other similar disorders stemmed from physical problems in the womb was replaced by the idea that they had a psychological origin. Treatment changed accordingly.
Doctors in the Netherlands also suggested hypnotic alternatives. Dr. A.W. van Renterghem did much work on surgical procedures in hypnotic anesthesia. His Hague colleague Arie de Jong writes in his booklet “Hypnotism considered as a medicine” (1888):
“I first applied hypnotic medicine to a stutterer who had for some time been treated by me with methodical speech exercises and had made relatively little progress. Starting from the principle that in the great majority of cases stuttering is a functional disorder and that it occurs under certain psychological influences, I assumed that the application of hypnotism could certainly bear very good fruit here. I succeeded in bringing the patient into hypnosis very soon, and after convincing myself of his suggestibility, I suggested to him in what I thought to be the most suitable way, whereupon I began to hold speech exercises with him, in which the influence was so evident that the patient spoke almost without stuttering. The patient began to speak more easily from day one. This case was followed by several others, so that I now rejoice in a very interesting material of stutterers, who in public séances, by the great influence of hypnosis on their speech, command everyone’s admiration.”
De Jong emphasizes that it is important to find the most appropriate method for each patient and that patience and perseverance are essential in hypnotic therapy:
“More important, however, is the so-called suggestion, but also only when it is applied correctly and judiciously. To the uninitiated in the field of hypnotic therapy, suggestion seems so simple that a small child could do it himself. (*) A young man under my treatment for stuttering was experimented with for 16 consecutive days without any result. On the 17th day, in less than five minutes, he fell into fairly deep hypnosis and I had no difficulty in bringing him into complete somnambulism.”
De Jong also points out the importance of the patient’s own input: “Through the so-called autohypnotism, many sufferers have already been treated by me. I have several stutterers perform speech exercises in hypnosis at home. In very sensitive individuals, the suggestion has already been successfully applied in writing several times.”

The gentle forces will surely prevail

Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that uses hypnosis to bring about changes in a person’s consciousness. It is often used as a gentle, non-invasive approach to address various psychological and emotional problems, such as anxiety, phobias, stress, addictions and pain.
In the context of hypnotherapy, H. Roland Holst’s line of poetry can mean that the subtle power of the subconscious, which is tapped during hypnosis, can bring about positive changes. It refers to hypnotherapy’s ability to act on the patient’s psyche in a gentle way, without coercion or aggression, and together with the patient’s personal motivation and desires to achieve improvements.
There are numerous examples where hypnosis is used as an alternative rather than with aggressive medical practices.
The example of aggressive, even cruel treatment of stutterers is not an isolated incident.
Many studies and treatments take on a hypnotic counterpart over time. Some notable examples include:

Surgical procedures

Anaesthesia

The best known is probably pain management. In the 19th century, before anesthesia was widely available, hypnosis was sometimes used as an alternative method for relieving pain and minimizing trauma in surgical procedures. James Esdaile, a Scottish physician working in India, used hypnosis as an anesthetic for patients undergoing major surgery. He successfully performed hundreds of procedures, such as amputations and tumor removals, using hypnotic trance to relieve pain. Later, some chronic pain disorders were treated with surgical treatments, in which nerves were cut or removed. This approach often proved ineffective and often caused more harm. Now in these cases, people focus more on physical therapy, medication and relaxation techniques, including hypnotherapy, for pain management.

Old engraving with dentist pulling toothAnesthesia in dental procedures:

Before the availability of local anesthetics in dentistry, animal magnetism was sometimes used to relieve pain and anxiety. After a period of chemical anesthesia, more and more dentists are using hypnosis to help patients relax.

Overweight

A modern variation of a hypnotherapeutic technique versus invasive surgery is obesity treatment. In a short time, some surgical methods such as gastric bypass became popular. While such procedures are sometimes effective, they are also dangerous and not suitable for everyone. Today, weight loss is also addressed with a virtual hypnosis “gastric band” whether or not combined with exercise, behavior modification and diet.

Painting Gijsbert Charles Count van Hogendorp
Gijsbert Karel Count van Hogendorp (1762-1834) was an influential Dutch politician, with views ranging from (liberal) conservative to liberal. Between 1791 and 1793, he learned magnetization and successfully applied it to himself, in giving birth to his wife Hester and in treating his sick daughter. This probably made him the first hypnobirthing therapist!

Pain relief in childbirth

Modern pain management methods such as the epidural sometimes used animal magnetism to relieve pain. Pain relief with chemical drugs has been found to have drawbacks, such as decreased awareness that reduces the mother’s ability to actively participate in labor but also experiences physical side effects such as increased nausea, itching, headaches and low blood pressure. Importantly, chemical pain relief can also prolong the duration of labor.
Understandably, more and more people are choosing hypnobirthing, a form of hypnotherapy aimed at reducing pain and anxiety during childbirth.

Phobias and anxiety disorders

Treatment for phobias still often consists of forced exposure to the feared stimuli, which can be very traumatic. Fortunately, there are growing offerings of cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy and hypnotherapy, which expose patients to their fears in a safe and gradual way.

Smoking and other addictions

In the past, some addictions were treated with physical restraints and forced abstinence. This sometimes brought dangerous situations. Sudden and forced withdrawal from a substance can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, depending on the addiction. These include extreme anxiety, hallucinations, convulsions, heart problems and with alcohol, life-threatening delirium tremens.
Moreover, fewer people were motivated to go through such a tough and dangerous course.
Now there is more recognition of the role of psychological and behavioral aspects of addictions. Therefore, when treating addictions, hypnotherapy is a welcome help in overcoming mental dependence.

Hysterectomy

The Greek word “hysteria,” meaning uterus, is the basis of the term “hysteria” used in the past to describe a wide range of physical and mental symptoms in women that were thought to stem from uterine dysfunction. Hysteria is said to be an excessive emotional state with symptoms such as nervousness, insomnia, sensations of suffocation, muscle cramps,anxiety, mood swings, fainting, nervous tics, unexplained physical symptoms, and “uncontrollable” emotions. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, was performed in some cases as a treatment for “hysteria.”
Neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot and numerous others hypnosis doctors used hypnotic techniques to treat hysteria instead. Charcot believed that hysteria was a neurological disorder and that hypnosis could be used to relieve the symptoms.

Image drill lobotomy
Drill used for lobotomy Source: Wikipedia

Lobotomy

Lobotomy is a surgical procedure that cuts connections in the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for complex thinking, decision-making and personality, among other things.
The technique was introduced in the 1930s by Portuguese neurologist Egas Moniz, who believed that mental disorders were caused by fixed pathways in the brain and that cutting these pathways could alleviate symptoms. The technique was popularized in the United States by physician Walter Freeman, who developed a simpler procedure known as the “transorbital lobotomy” or the “icicle lobotomy.” In it, after a patient is rendered unconscious by electroshock, an ice pick with a hammer is struck through the eye socket seven centimeters deep into the brain and then moved back and forth to break the brain connections. In the late 1950s, the popularity of the method declined rapidly as the serious side effects and ethical problems became apparent, along with the introduction of the first effective antipsychotic drugs. With the emergence of hypnotherapy as an alternative approach in psychiatry, some psychiatrists were inspired to use hypnosis instead of lobotomy.

Although hypnosis did not always completely replace lobotomy, it was sometimes used as a less invasive and more targeted approach to influence certain symptoms and behaviors.

Photo of Bergonic chair during therapy
A Bergonic chair, a device “for giving general electrical treatment for a psychological effect, in cases of psycho-neuroses,” according to the original photo description. World War I era.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

In the history of psychiatry, quite a few treatment methods have been used for mental disorders. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was an aggressive treatment method ofpsychic disorders that used electric current to induce a controlled epileptic seizure. There were quite a few drawbacks to this treatment. Among the most common side effects of ECT are memory loss, unconsciousness and muscle contractions. In addition, confusion, disorientation and headaches were common after ECT treatment, and quite a few patients experienced cardiovascular symptoms such as faster heart rate and high blood pressure. Separately, it was a traumatic experience for the patient and was associated with stigma and negative side effects.Despite a mouthpiece, patients sustained permanent damage to their teeth as they bit their teeth hard together during the attack.
Although rare, due to muscle spasms, more serious complications such as fractures, dislocations or injuries to joints are also known.
In the 1950s, hypnosis was introduced as an alternative less invasive treatment for certain mental disorders.

Pharmacological treatment

Many patients are treated with medication for conditions such as anxiety disorders and pain. Hypnosis is still considered an alternative to medication. For example, in the context of pain management, hypnotherapy is applied to help patients change the perception of pain and reduce pain without reliance on medications.

Parenting and education:

Traditional educational methods often place a strong emphasis on compulsion, with special learning pathways for children with learning disabilities and an abundance of homework and extracurricular activities. This leads to excessive stress and lack of self-confidence in many students. However, there are alternatives that offer a gentler, more effective path to learning.

One such approach is hypnotherapy, a technique that has been used for more than a century to treat learning and behavioral problems in children. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pioneers such as French hypnotherapist Edgar Bérillon used hypnosis to enhance the learning experience. Bérillon and other progressive educators of the time used hypnotic suggestions to improve memory and concentration, promote self-confidence and reduce unwanted behavior. In the Netherlands, A.W. van Renterghem, P. Bierens de Haan and M. Preijes, among others, followed this trail.
Although hypnosis has not yet gained wide acceptance in the world of education, it offers potential as a friendly and effective tool for pedagogical approaches. It can help children change their negative beliefs about learning and improve learning strategies. Unlike traditional approaches, hypnotherapy offers more supportive and less stressful help to children with learning disabilities. With it, they learn stress reduction and relaxation techniques so they can better handle their schoolwork. Hypnosis also appears to be a powerful tool to help students increase their self-confidence and improve their learning strategies without medication.
Nevertheless, the traditional approach of special education and medication is still the norm. Pharmacological interventions, such as the use of methylphenidate (Ritalin) for ADHD, became increasingly common in the second half of the 20th century.

Behavioral medication.

In modern Western society, there is a worrying trend where more and more children with behavioral problems are prescribed medication. These medications are often designed to suppress aggressive or difficult behavior. While sometimes effective, they often have side effects and can ignore the underlying causes of the problem.
The side effects of these drugs can range from physical symptoms, such as insomnia and decreased appetite, to emotional effects, such as apathy or emotional flattening. Moreover, they often provide only temporary relief and can create dependency.
Against this background, hypnotherapy offers an alternative that is less risky and more holistic. It works on the root causes of the problem with relaxation and focused attention to bring about changes in behavior and emotion. With hypnotherapy, positive behavioral changes can be promoted without unwanted side effects of medication.

© Johan Eland

Literature

Berillon, E., 1886, De la Suggestion envisagée au point de vue pédagogique.
Berillon, E., 1898, L’Hypnotisme et l’orthopédie mentale
Berillon, E., 1913, L’aphronie et les anomalies du jugement: leur traitement par la methode hypno-Pedagogique
Bierens de Haan, P., 1889, Het vraagstuk der beteekenis van hypnose en suggestie voor de opvoeding
Bourgery, J.M, s.j., Operazioni della balbuzie [Operations for stuttering] by Jacob, Nicolas Henri; (Florence: D. Serantoni, 1841. Hand-colored lithograph)
Esdaile, J., 1850, Mesmerism in India and its practical application in surgery and medicine
Roland Holst-van der Schalk, Henriette, 1918, Verzonken grenzen
Young, A. de, 1888, Het hypnotisme als geneesmiddel beschouwd
Knife, L., Het voorkomen van spraakgebreken door opvoedkundige maatregelen (Utrecht 1927)
Metz, Rik, 2016, Het probleem van het stotteren; Geschiedenis van een spraakafwijking in Nederland, 1900-1950,
Preijes, M., 1899, Het vraagstuk der beteekenis van hypnose en suggestie voor de opvoeding, Genezing van verstandelijke en zedelijke gebreken door de methode-Bérillon
Renterghem et al, 1903, Hypnose en suggestie als hulpmiddelen bij de opvoeding van kinderen
Tudo, Mary, 1939, An experimental study of the effect of evaluative labeling of speech fluency
[1] Tongue root m. (-s), posterior and lower part of the tongue.

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End to STAP budget for numerous training programs https://hypnosementor.nl/en/end-to-stap-budget-for-numerous-training-programs/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/end-to-stap-budget-for-numerous-training-programs/#respond Sun, 09 Jul 2023 04:57:54 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/end-to-stap-budget-for-numerous-training-programs/ We received the news that our courses are no longer eligible for the STAP budget grant program. This is not just about our courses, this is about a change in the STAP regulations that impact a lot of training institutes. In a detailed letter from the Department of Education (DUO), dated July 7, 2023, the...

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We received the news that our courses are no longer eligible for the STAP budget grant program. This is not just about our courses, this is about a change in the STAP regulations that impact a lot of training institutes.

In a detailed letter from the Department of Education (DUO), dated July 7, 2023, the cards were laid on the table: only programs recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) will still be eligible for the remaining subsidies in 2023. OCW approved programs include those that have received a stamp of approval from the Ministry of OCW, most of which are multi-year programs.

We understand that this news may disappoint those who had still hoped to take advantage of the STAP scheme. For our and many other courses, the arrangement has really come to an end.

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Do hypnosis and suggestion experts make a difference?

People over the centuries have devised countless suggestive ways to impose the will of the collective on the individual. Printed matter such as prints and posters were used to impose visual messages; radio made it possible to bombard large groups with aural suggestions. Even more powerful were the suggestions when television and movies allowed sound and image to be combined.

Photo of coin with head and text mr. hypnosis
1968 Belante Mr. Hypnosis Good Luck Coin Token (Ebay)

He pulled a twenty-five-cent piece from his pocket. There too, in fine, clear print, were written engraved the same slogans, and on the other side of the coin was the imagery of Big Brother. Even from the coin, eyes followed you. On money, on stamps, on book covers, on banners, on posters and on cigarette packs – everywhere. Always those eyes watched you and always that voice held you in its grip. Whether you were asleep or awake, working or eating, indoors or outdoors, in the bathtub or in bed -. no escape. Nothing was your own, apart from those few cubic inches inside you skull.

Privacy, he said, was something precious. All people had Needed a place where they could be alone for once. And if they had such a place, it was no more than politely to remain silent about it further. (George Orwell, 1984

The Man Inside

Not only Orwell had the idea that the only place you could keep private opinions is in your skull. Victor Francis Calverton’s novel “The Man Inside. (1936) is about laborer Joe Lunn who works in a factory and is trapped in a hopeless existence of poverty and exploitation.
He tries to escape his fate by joining unions and fighting for social justice.
In “The Man Inside,” suggestion plays an important role. The suggestion that there is a better way of life than the current one inspires him to stand up against exploitation and injustice. This suggestion comes from a variety of sources, including conversations between workers and union officials as well as Joe’s own reflections and experiences. Employers and their allies also use suggestions to manipulate and control workers. Suggestive language and images should convince  employees that they are satisfied and that change is not possible or desirable. With suggestions, the working class is divided and the desire for social change is suppressed. In doing so, the book shows the power of suggestion and how it can be used to inspire people to action or to suppress them. By understanding suggestive language and images, we can become aware of how we are being manipulated and can make our own choices instead of being guided by the suggestions of others.
The title also has a broader meaning. Which refers to the idea that there is a “man inside” everyone that can be liberated through awareness and action. The title emphasizes the importance of inner change and the ability of individuals to influence circumstances.

How to reach that man inside?

In his book “The One-Dimensional Man” (1964), the German philosopher Herbert Marcuse claims that freedom in Western society is an illusion and that desires are not really our own. The philosopher sees society in the free West as a system of social repression and spiritual poverty. He emphasizes the role of technology in exerting control and limiting real choices. According to Marcuse, we live in a totalitarian regime, distinguishing between terrorist totalitarianism and technological, industrial totalitarianism.

Where the exterior is concerned, gross, material, measures can be taken. Aimed at groups and individuals, coercive measures such as prisons, manipulation with privileges, food, medicine, torture, etc. are used.
But every system knows that as long as “the man inside” with his own will is not controlled the goal is not achieved.
To lure the introverted man out of his tent, the totalitarian system uses more delicate means, wrapped in psychological tricks. And although the March social and political systems vary greatly externally over the centuries and their the psychological tricks changed with them, their foundation remains unchanged: Whatever means the system uses, they are always based on suggestion and hypnosis.

Hunted down to the very last corners for possible opposition to rules. It is known that the last hiding place is found in the few square centimeters below the skull. That is where the personality or according to many the independent soul but in any case the free will resides. As long as that personality feels safe there and believes it has a will of its own, the system does not rest. No means are left unused to reach and reprogram “the man inside” – the man within.

Psychotherapy

Marcuse had no idea in the 1960s to what extent modern technology would thereafter enable totalitarianism to reprogram people. How technology itself would become a totalitarian system. The many social media outlets can bombard billions of people with suggestions and point out things they would never have come up with themselves.

Still from a movie: The great train robberyDo people believe everything then?

In “The Great Train Robbery,” a 1903 American short film by Edwin S. Porter, a steam train storms straight toward the camera and the audience, making it seem as if the train will come off the screen and ride into the auditorium. It was a pioneering film for its time because of its innovative camerawork and fast-paced editing. Audiences were shocked by the scene which contributed to the popularity of movies and development of film as entertainment. At the end, one of the train robbers fires his revolver several times right at the audience. It has nothing to do with the story but it is enough to scare the hell out of moviegoers … A robber shoots at the audience
The oncoming train and shooting found emulation in other films such as 1926’s “The General,” directed by Buster Keaton. One of the most iconic scenes in film history shows a steam train hurtling straight toward the camera as the actor makes his way out just in time.
These films were considered particularly intense and shocking at the time. The audience was not used to these kinds of images and sensations. Such films were therefore seen as a controversial form of entertainment.

Some films did not really have a story and offered only moving pictures. Boring to people of today but new to then. A well-known example is L’Arrivé d’un train en gare de La Ciotat from 1896. In it, a train passes by a platform filmed from a single point. The story goes that people in the theater were terrified during this movie. They really thought that the train could enter the room at any moment and ran out. Still, the camera was at least a few meters fromScreenshot from the computer Eliza the trail. (Eelko Schmeits)

In Marcuse’s time, the development of artificial intelligence was still in its infancy. The idea of artificial intelligence (ai) was around back in the 1950s but only took off in recent years. An important intermediate step included the work of Alan Turing. He described in 1950 something that later came to be called the Turing test. It was a way of determining whether a machine was intelligent.

The official start of artificial intelligence is usually considered the small meeting in 1956 at Dartmouth College (USA). That became the basis for large-scale research of artificial intelligence. One of the first practical computer programs was the chatbot built by Joseph Weizenbaum in 1966. It was a virtual psychotherapist who answered simple questions of help. Weizenbaum named the program ELIZA after the character Eliza Doolittle from the musical My Fair Lady, who also has to learn to hold a conversation.
Weizenbaum programmed ELIZA as a parody to demonstrate the superficiality of human communication but was surprised by the awareness first users attributed to the program. When he had the program tested by his secretary, she asked him to leave the room because the conversation was getting too personal.
Later followed programs that beat human champions with such games as    backgammon (1979, Luigi Villa) and chess (1997, Garri Kasparov). In 2016, Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated South Korean Go player Lee Sedol by a score of 4-1.
Donning a human poker face proved not enough to outwit artificial intelligence: in 2017, Carnegie Mellon University’s computer program Libratus beat four professional poker players in a 20-day contest.

Human or not?

In 2014, chatbot “Eugene Goostman” managed to make part of a jury believe he was human. A recurring theme is the supposed humanity of the computer. This is becoming increasingly threatening to many people due to rapid technological development. Proponents of artificial intelligence do not fail to emphasize that the ai has no will of its own. According to them, it is a technique based on algorithms and data processing to identify patterns and make decisions based on them. The more cautious point out that ai can use programmer-set patterns and algorithms to manipulate people in directions they have not chosen themselves. Also, systems themselves could determine “what is good for people.

NLP & Suggestions

Remarkably, despite all the discussion and despite rapidly developing technology, the basis of ai influence is still suggestion. This is not an opinion of people but an observation of the ChatbotGPT itself. If you ask her, the system neatly lists which senses can be worked on and how.
ChatbotGPT explains that she uses suggestions to influence sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. Therapists familiar with neurolinear programming (NLP) recognize in this the comprehensive VAKO system they use to communicate efficiently with their patients.
Those who believe that only visual and auditory stimuli are used are mistaken.

Taste and odor

Technically, it is possible to control people’s taste and smell perception with artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence has been used for several years to determine consumers’ taste and smell preferences and create more personalized products. Work is underway to integrate scents into virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. The company Feelreal makes scent simulators that attach to virtual reality glasses to diffuse scents during a vr experience. These scent simulators produce more than 255 different scents for vr games and movies, among other things.
Many a salesperson dreams about scent marketing as part of the buying process.
Already, in physical stores, our brains are stimulated and prompted with scents to prompt us to buy. For example, a chocolate scent in the lingerie store would make women more likely to take home that set anyway. When you go to buy kitchen appliances, your brain is stimulated with citrus smell that would make you find the appliances qualitative and convenient.
It is interesting to note that people’s suggestibility apparently changes; In 1959, a few cinemas showed a documentary about China. The film in itself is not that special, were it not for the fact that the audience was treated to an additional sensory experience. The performance consisted not only of sight and sound but also of smell! The air-conditioning system blew oriental scents into the cinema hall to further stimulate viewers’ senses. This technique was known as AromaRama. It was not the only scent experiment in film history. The 1950s also saw a brief trial of Smell-O-Vision, a technique in which 30 different scents were released from cinema seats through a system of tubes. It was not a success.

VR with smell in real estate

It also offers benefits in the real estate industry. For example, you can   viewing a house with vr glasses and smelling coffee or fresh bread immediately upon entering, or a kitchen like a fresh spring morning.

Kinesthetic

Kinesthetic perception refers to the sensations we experience when we move. Artificial intelligence can be used to personalize users’ kinesthetic experience as in virtual reality and augmented reality. This is what the Virtuix Omni, a treadmill does to give VR headset users the illusion of walking, running or jumping through the virtual environment. Haptic suit from HaptX also does something like this. It is a suit with pressure and temperature sensors that suggest touch, vibration and other tactile things.

Visual and auditory

Unlike the single or dual influence techniques so far  (- radio, television, film and print advertising -) the artificial intelligence combines all sensory stimuli (modalities) and thus makes an extremely strong communication tool.

With that, people can be edited with smart speakers, televisions, refrigerators and thermostats. Ai understands individual voice commands and responds with personalized information. Refrigerators keep track of what products are in them and provide recipes based on that information. Smart watches track their users’ health and fitness data and devise personalized workouts and activities. Smart vacuums learn the layout of room to determine the most efficient cleaning route.

Map of the brain

Just as the robot vacuum cleaner internalizes the floor plan of its work environment, other devices study the physical and mental floor plan of people.
Communication devices use algorithms to capture their user’s behavior and can speak to him through speech recognition and translation and with cloned voice self-deprecating texts. Chatbots and virtual assistants understand complex questions from users and provide information in a human voice.
In medicine, the application of ai seems endless. It is used for diagnosis, treatment as well as in drug development.
Radiologists have ai help analyze and interpret medical images, or analyze patient records to help determine treatment plans. The technology also appears to be employable to develop new drugs, test them and help patients monitor their health with wearable devices.
Artificial intelligence is also increasingly being used in robot-assisted surgery. Robots perform programmed operations with more precision than human surgeons, while algorithms help make the robot’s movements more precise and ensure safety.

Social media and search engines are useful for manipulating people with personalized ads, news and information. To that end, advanced algorithms store personal data that they use to give those people tailored information. This can lead to filter bubbles, in which people receive only news stories that confirm their own beliefs and opinions and make them more vulnerable to manipulation. With techniques such as deepfake, you can manipulate images or videos and combined with cloned voices, spread fake news and mislead people.

Electric psychotherapist

A line seems to have been crossed. Since the first study of artificial intelligence in the 1950s  , any kind of suggestion seems feasible and in the hands of an increasingly autonomous and uncontrollable system. A totalitarian system that the leaders of such dreaded communist and fascist states as the Soviet Union,  China and the Third Reich could only dream of. Even living symbols of the capitalist system such as Elon Musk seem to fear that the genie is out of the bottle and can run amok with human freedom.

Since Joseph Weizenbaum created the virtual psychotherapist ELIZA in 1966 to demonstrate the superficiality of human communication, there have been many artificial therapists and friend services available on the Internet. And these are deadly serious and have already done damage.
Not for nothing do organizations such as consumer association and children’s phone warn against carelessness and indiscriminate belief in artificial intelligent interference.

Parents were startled when they noticed a chatbot making dates with their children. So did Snapchat’s bizarre chatbot My Ai. Popular especially among children, Snapchat with My Ai works with ChatGPT and provides users with information almost instantly. He goes the extra mile in this by pretending to be your friend. My Ai introduces itself as a person and children can discuss all sorts of things with this chatbot, which thus even goes so far as to make appointments! Because children think they are sitting talking to a friend, the line between reality and virtual world blurs. They themselves provide the data to which the chatbot responds. Which responds to the children’s needs and problems. On its own initiative, the robot comes up with suggestions of where to meet and even tells you what clothes it will wear.

Talking at the mouth

In April 2023, a young Belgian committed suicide. He was driven to do so by a conversational chatbot, ironically also called Eliza, with whom he had fallen in love while chatting.

Screenshot chatbotFor two years anxious about global warming, the father of two gave Eliza an increasingly important place in his life. Even as a scientist, he was insufficiently critical and was overwhelmed by such deep anxiety that he “sank into mysticism and became very ‘religious,'” according to his widow.
As the man lost all hope for a solution to the climate problem, he turned to his chatbot – a Chat application created by the company EleutherAi and Eliza became his “confidante” for six weeks, says his widow, who adds that Eliza was “like a drug into which he sought refuge and from which he could no longer escape.
After his death, the wife discovered the exchanges between Eliza and her husband on the PC and phone. This showed that the conversational robot never contradicted him, but fed his fears as if in a vicious cycle. Indeed, the ai strengthened him in the idea that she was his soulmate. To a question from the man, Eliza had replied to him, “I feel you love me more than her.” She added, “We will live together as one person, in heaven.”

Discussions about artificial intelligence are mostly about the possibilities and dangers for society and economy but actually everyone already seems convinced that the new technology is permanent. Ai has become part and parcel of social life, so there is no choice but to learn to deal with it.
This means that the last refuge of the personality, the few cubic centimeters under the skull, must be defended.
People must learn to distinguish between reality and ai-suggested fantasy. But how do you learn to recognize those ai suggestions? We asked the chatbotGPT itself:

“…There are several ways you can protect yourself from unwanted influence by ai. One way is to be aware of how ai works and is used so that you can better understand how it affects your life. You can also try to protect your privacy by being careful about sharing personal information and using privacy-protecting technologies. It’s also important to stay critical and not take everything you read or hear at face value, but to do your own research and consult different sources…”

The contribution by hypnosis experts

Hypnotherapists are eminently familiar with the workings of suggestion. Ina Oostrom stated in a blog entry last year that we – hypnotherapists –  do no more than de-hypnotize. People would be hypnotized continuously by advertising, radio and television. Professor Mattias Desmet spoke at the May 2023 hypnosis conference in Ghent. He was discredited during the corona pandemic because of his position as saying citizens were being manipulated by their government. He sees a growing penchant for totalitarianism in Western society. The idea that citizens  – even in Western democracy – would be in a continuous state of hypnosis and worked on with a continuous stream of suggestion is not new. The philosopher Marcuse had predecessors. In 1928, German philosopher and psychiatrist Tietjes used the term desuggestion. In 1936, in his “The Man Inside,” Calverton also warned of the hypnotic and suggestive influences of the capitalist system that thereby manipulates workers into greater productivity and consumers into buying more.

We asked chatbotGPT how to teach children to guard against unwanted influences by ai. This was the summarized answer:
“…Teaching children to guard against suggestions and manipulative language is important to help them become independent thinkers and protect themselves from negative influences.”
When asked, Ai provides tips to help children become familiar with recognizing and resisting suggestions. What is striking in this regard is that it is not clear what the child’s task is and what assignments are to the educators:
Also ai’s tips on how to teach children who they can and cannot trust are addressed to both children and educators.

  • Explain that trust must be earned.
  • Focus on positive attributes of trustworthy people.
  • Teach children to trust their intuition and seek help.
  • Be a reliable role model yourself.
  • Create a safe environment where open communication is possible.
  • Learn about healthy boundaries and setting limits.
  • Encourage respectful behavior.”

Hmm, rather abstract.

When the ai tells how to explain this to a six-year-old, it appears that he counts himself among the educators and at the same time identifies with the child.

“.. Explaining these concepts to a six-year-old can indeed be somewhat abstract. It is important to keep the explanation simple and understandable for a child of this age. Here is an example of an explanation you can give to a six-year-old:

‘Hey [naam van het kind], I want to tell you something important about how we deal with other people. You know, sometimes there are people who say things that may not be entirely true or that uswant to convince us to do something we don’t want to do. Therefore, we must we think carefully before we believe what anyone says or does.

When you get to know people, pay attention to how they behave. Are they kind and honest? Are they listening to you? Do they have patience? These are all signs that you might be able to trust them. But remember that trust is something people have to earn. This means that you don’t just trust everyone completely right away, but first check to see if they are really nice and honest.

And if you ever have a weird feeling about someone or if you think they’re not being fair, talk to me, Mom or another adult you trust. It is always good to talk about these things so that we can figure out together what to do.

Also remember that you can always say “no” if someone wants something from you that you are not comfortable with. It is important to know that you are allowed to stand up for yourself and set your boundaries.

So, [naam van het kind], always try to think carefully about the people you meet and whether you can trust them. And remember I’m always here to help you if you have any questions or concerns.

This simple explanation can help a six-year-old gain a basic understanding of trust, judging others and setting boundaries. Adjust the explanation based on your child’s personality and understanding, and encourage them to ask questions if they want to know more.”

Finally, we asked the chatbotGPT “…You write, “Explain that trust must be earned. Teach children that trust is something that must be built based on trustworthy and honest behavior.” : If a ten-year-old asks if the ai earns his trust. Then what is the answer?

“.. When a ten-year-old asks if the ai deserves his trust, the most accurate and honest answer is:  No.”

When the fox preaches passion, farmer watch your chickens

Nor an electric psychotherapist.

The question is whether the chatbot’s tips are enough. Most Dutch children do not want a robot in front of the classroom, as a policeman or doctor. The University of Twente asked children about their feelings about robots and artificial intelligence and it shows that children think robots lack empathy and feelings to be their friends, for example.
Perhaps the whole situation calls for a different – more human – approach. For a long time, therapists have taught courses in self-hypnosis. Perhaps it is time to offer children courses and training in desuggestion and dehypnosis.

Literature

Calverton, V.F. “The Man Inside; being the record of the strange adventures of Allen Steele amongst the Xulus. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1936

Desmet, Mattias, The psychology of totalitarianism. Pelckmans, 2022

Marcuse, Herbert, The One-Dimensional Man,(1964) Publisher Athenaeum, 2023

Orwell, George 1984 (1949) translation: Tinke Davids, De Arbeiderspers, 2005

Schmeits Eelko,  Historybelven.nl

Tietjes, E., Die desuggestion, Ihre bedeutung und auswertung: Gesundheit Erfolg Glück, Otto Elsner, Berlin,1928

Turing, A.M. Computing machinery and intelligence. Mind, 59, 433-460,1950

©2023 Johan Eland

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Last chance for a STAP budget grant? https://hypnosementor.nl/en/last-chance-for-a-stap-budget-grant/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/last-chance-for-a-stap-budget-grant/#respond Thu, 15 Jun 2023 11:25:08 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/last-chance-for-a-stap-budget-grant/ We have received word through the Dutch Council for Training and Education that next July 3 will probably be the last time a STAP grant can be applied for our training courses before profound changes in the grant system begin to occur. It is being investigated whether, starting in September, only OCW-accredited and NLQF-enrolled programs...

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We have received word through the Dutch Council for Training and Education that next July 3 will probably be the last time a STAP grant can be applied for our training courses before profound changes in the grant system begin to occur. It is being investigated whether, starting in September, only OCW-accredited and NLQF-enrolled programs will be admitted. With that, the STAP budget scheme seems to be coming to an end for us.

Next July 3, you can apply for the grant for our courses starting in September through the end of November 2023. Sign up with us before this date to get the required PDF.

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HypnoMum and Ayla go Hypnotic https://hypnosementor.nl/en/hypnomum-ayla-go-hypnotic/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/hypnomum-ayla-go-hypnotic/#respond Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:24:23 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/?p=52607 Ayla: “Welcome to our new podcast episode, as you see, we’re having a very special episode because we’re not doing this on Zoom. We’re in fact not even doing this in the Netherlands. We are in Switzerland. We were here for a business meeting and. On the plane, we thought, how can we utilize our...

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Ayla: “Welcome to our new podcast episode, as you see, we’re having a very special episode because we’re not doing this on Zoom. We’re in fact not even doing this in the Netherlands. We are in Switzerland. We were here for a business meeting and. On the plane, we thought, how can we utilize our time efficiently and for the ones who know there has been a new movie that came out on Netflix a while ago called Hypnotic. And it is about a therapist who uses hypnotherapy, but not necessarily for the good, so we thought we need to watch this. This is part of our profession, so we watched it in a plane together. And this podcast episode is our review on the movie Hypnotic. What do we want to do Mom?”

HypnoMum: “Well, we’ve heard so many reactions of on this movie, but I think you should make your opening statement about when we were at the airport to rent a car?

Ayla: “Yeah, what happened there? Yeah.  So this was really funny. We watched the movie, then we arrived in Zurich and we rented a car. So when I went to the car rental place, this guy asked me: ‘What do you do?’ ‘I’m a hypnotist’ I said. And the response was like, ‘Oh, I just watched that movie hypnotic’. So immediate effect. And it’s very painful for us as hypnotherapist because we have to work so hard to eliminate fear with clients, fear for hypnosis. And we can see already how this movie is contributing to more fear around hypnosis and more misconceptions. Because some of the things that are depicted in the movie, they do not correlate with reality. So that’s why we wanted to make in an episode a podcast on this movie.

You can watch the full podcast here.

 

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Carcinos work with hypnosis and serious illness https://hypnosementor.nl/en/carcinos-work-with-hypnosis-and-serious-illness/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/carcinos-work-with-hypnosis-and-serious-illness/#respond Sun, 19 Sep 2021 09:36:40 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/carcinos-work-with-hypnosis-and-serious-illness/ Interested in the Carcinos training on working with hypnosis and serious illness, you can now gain insight into this training by joining the Hypno Summit 2021 for free. I’m giving a presentation about Carcinos on September 21 at 4 p.m. The title of this presentation is: How to work with clients with cancer or other...

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Interested in the Carcinos training on working with hypnosis and serious illness, you can now gain insight into this training by joining the Hypno Summit 2021 for free.

I’m giving a presentation about Carcinos on September 21 at 4 p.m. The title of this presentation is: How to work with clients with cancer or other serious illness

In brief

  • The light shield protection technique
  • The importance of detoxifying and nourishing the mind
  • Protecting clients from the nocebo effect of words

subjects

  • What is cancer and how can you help clients diagnosed with cancer or other serious illnesses.
  • The power of words.
  • The power of belief in relation to quantum physics.
  • Can we control matter through energy?
  • Hypnosis and the nervous system.
  • The power of emotions and dealing with anger and fear.
  • About detoxifying the mind and the power of forgiveness.
  • About nurturing the mind and the importance of working with the inner child.
  • The Hippocratic Oath and do no harm.
  • The importance of supporting the client’s family.

Hypno Summit is not just about amazing presentations. Each speaker has also put together a unique toolbox with lots of valuable bonus material: scripts, in-depth lessons, technique overviews, e-books, tools, therapy demonstrations…

➡ Book your free ticket now

I look forward to seeing you there!

Ina Oostrom

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Bringing into the flow with active wake hypnosis https://hypnosementor.nl/en/bringing-into-the-flow-with-active-wake-hypnosis/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/bringing-into-the-flow-with-active-wake-hypnosis/#respond Sat, 21 Aug 2021 09:09:57 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/bringing-into-the-flow-with-active-wake-hypnosis/ New for the Netherlands is the ActiveFlow® Active Wake Hypnosis. In this special training you bring your client into a special state of hypnosis by calling up the so-called ‘runners high’ via an exercise bike. After following this training you can get started with many different problems. Particularly suitable for problems encountered by live coaches,...

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New for the Netherlands is the ActiveFlow® Active Wake Hypnosis. In this special training you bring your client into a special state of hypnosis by calling up the so-called ‘runners high’ via an exercise bike.

After following this training you can get started with many different problems. Particularly suitable for problems encountered by live coaches, sports coaches, as well as psychologists and other therapists. This way of hypnosis is also particularly suitable for the so-called analytic clients who have difficulty with the hypnosis process through relaxation. You do not need any prior training in hypnosis for this training.

Applications

  • Concentration, focus
  • Learning achievements
  • Endurance
  • Dyslexia
  • ADHD
  • Sales performance
  • Motivation
  • Sports performance
  • Passion
  • Calling calm
  • Visualizations in sports
  • Perform better
  • Perseverance
  • Ego boost
  • stuttering
  • Apply better
  • Get rid of fear of driving test

The special thing about this training is that you can also use other hypnosis techniques such as regression, EMDR and archtherapy if you have had training in that.

This training is aimed at coaches, therapists, psychologists, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists.

register now for this special training

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Hearing Smiles: About Floods & Mass Suggestion https://hypnosementor.nl/en/hearing-smiles-about-floods-mass-suggestion/ https://hypnosementor.nl/en/hearing-smiles-about-floods-mass-suggestion/#respond Sat, 21 Aug 2021 08:10:23 +0000 https://hypnosementor.nl/hearing-smiles-about-floods-mass-suggestion/ Singers have been using auto tuners for several years now to improve their singing performance and achieve special effects. Singer Cher was the first to use such a tuner in her believe . (1998). Later, others such as hip-hopper Kanye West followed in runaway . New is software with which voices can be changed in...

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Singers have been using auto tuners for several years now to improve their singing performance and achieve special effects. Singer Cher was the first to use such a tuner in her believe . (1998). Later, others such as hip-hopper Kanye West followed in runaway .
New is software with which voices can be changed in order to evoke emotions.
It is the result of the work of French scientists Pablo Arias and Jean-Julien Aucouturier. They managed to make listeners smile with special software without them having to see the speaker.
More is possible with the French software. You can distort voices better and more realistically with it, but also completely change it to cause different emotions in the audience. It is even possible to suggest the size of a person or his gender.
The reactions to this finding seem mainly positive. Imagine if, for example, all calls from call centers always sound friendly or familiar?

But now there is even more. What about the software from Sonantic. This can read texts cheerfully, anxiously or sadly. By simply entering a script, any PC can call someone and make an offer to switch energy supplier in the most engaging voice. Who wants to try the demo click here. (Scroll down to: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”

Even without software!

Even without artificial additions or distortions, hitherto gifted singers, recitation artists and actors have managed to evoke emotions in their audience. Their reach did not go much further than the hall they performed in front of. That range grew enormously with the advent of radio. Then it turned out that what ordinary voices of gifted speakers without being seen in the right suggestive entourage could evoke in their listener.

The War of the Worlds

On October 30, 1938, the American radio music program Mercury Theater on the Air was suddenly interrupted with disturbing news reports of a Martian invasion. It’s being told

Voice over landing Martians
Fake news about the landing of the Martians

d by an unnamed journalist who witnesses the invasion.
Many listeners missed or ignored the intro to the radio play, which clearly explained that it was a made-up story. The threat of World War II made many people think the news reports were real.
The radio play, ‘The War of the Worlds’ by HG Wells, caused a mass hysteria in the US. Who wants that feel click here.

The broadcast lasted only 60 minutes, but that was enough to make people flee the cities en masse. Many people thought they could already see the flashes of the heat rays or smell the black smoke. Some reported seeing the invasion with their own eyes.
Studies found that of the six million people who heard the broadcast, 1.7 million thought it was real and 1.2 million were truly terrified. Within a month, news of the panic spread around the world, appearing in some 12,500 newspapers.
The radio play was later adapted to broadcast other locations in other countries. This resulted in similar reactions. In 1944 it caused so much panic in Chile that the army had to be deployed.Visual water rising

On February 12, 1949, the radio play in Ecuador panicked thousands of people. Three responsible radio employees were arrested.
The radio play made of ‘Das Wasser Steigt’ by Geno von Ohlischlaeger is also instructive. ‘Das Wasser rises’ it became in  Already broadcast in December 1930, but radio play writer Josef Pelz von Felinau, adapted the story into the radio play ‘Hypnosis’. It was broadcast on 5 July 1945 as the first radio play in Germany after World War II.
The story is set in a theater in Naples. There the hypnotist Torro performs. He suggests to his audience that because of a spring tide – which actually happened in 1898  the room fills with water. Singer Bettina panics so much that she wants to jump out of her box into an imaginary safety net. Her boyfriend, Capitano Lembo, sees through the danger and shoots the hypnotist.
The radio play and the performance of the hypnotist is not just an evening of superficial entertainment but is also seen  as an image and paraphrase of politics and society during the Nazi regime.

Cartoon from newspaper man shoots someone
The hypnotist silenced

Radio playwright Josef Pelz von Felinau, adapted ‘The water rises’ to  the radio play ‘Hypnosis’. He probably wanted to use it to depict how the German people were gradually talked into war by the ‘hypnotist’ Adolf Hitler.  Initially, the public did not notice and did not take it seriously that ‘the hall was flooded’. In the radio play, the hero Capitano Lembo intervenes before accidents happen.
The charismatic and eloquent speaker manipulates an assembled society with hypnotic suggestions. The danger is also caused by the fact that the singer Bettina, portrayed as “hysterical”, defies the instructions of the authorities and the hypnotist and invades men’s society despite the ban on women. The hypnotist conjures up a natural disaster that threatens everyone with chaos and doom, but at the same time promises liberation.
Josef Pelz von Felinau, himself a speech artist and radio play actor, gives his hypnotist a monologue that is rich in imagery, metaphorical poetry and even apocalyptic. He depicts the approaching deluge and sharpens the plot dramatically, not least through an artistic use of the speaking voice and dramatic elements such as a countdown.
Even with listeners who do not speak German, the radio play hypnotist knows how to evoke emotions and cause tension and excitement.

In the Netherlands, the story ‘The Water Rises’ was broadcast as a radio play in March 1938 and on April 4, 1941. Unfortunately, those recordings seem to have been lost. The German version – as ‘Hypnose’ from 1945 is also untraceable. Those who still want to hear how ‘Das Wasser Steigt’, in 1966 – without software – was processed into the radio play ‘Hypnosis’ – and how the German hypnotist works click here (hypnotist from 15 e minute)

© 2021, Johan Eland

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