Poll: Do you believe in hypnotism?

[Shadowtek]

Do you believe in hypnotism? Its a simple enough question, with one catch. Im not talking about someone dangling a watch in front of you and and making you quack like a duck. Im talking about true hypnotism. Although completely voluntary, its side effects can be brutal. Such as emotional conditioning. It can be good to be relatively numb at times, most others you need to have emotions intact. This type of hypnotism Im speaking of could also be called "brain washing", whether it be voluntary, involuntary, self-inflicted, or unintentional. Basically Im talking about anything that would, either in short term or long, alter our psyche to better suit a purpose. These very well could be constructive or destructive uses.

But my question remains, Do you believe?

 

[The Wykydtron]

I'm pretty sure it's been scientifically proven to exist...

[sub]WITH SCIENCE![/sub]

Also thanks for reminding me i need to reread Lost + Brain

You know that (completely inaccurate but still fucking awesome) manga on hypnotism?!

 

[gabe12301]

It does exist.the force has a strong influence on the weak minded.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

You can only get hypnotized if you're willing...

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

No, it always seems unreal to me.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Yep pretty much when I had watched this documtary about some people who had their lives ruin from street hypnotis. Also Darren Brown done it a few times (I think) which look like it's the real deal.

 

[thylasos]

Hypnotism exists and works with various levels of success, as has been scientifically proven, and is a recognised tool in psychoanalysis, as far as I'm aware.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Absolutely, our mind is a complex machine and as any machine it has it's own quirks and tricks that can be manipulated, alot more so when the participant is willing to accept the influences.

You haveto remember the brain is the hub of your entire world, everything you feel, hear, taste, smell, see and know is interpreted by it, if you can manipulate it even a little you can turn anyone's world inside out.

 

[Tulks]

Yep pretty much when I had watched this documtary about some people who had their lives ruin from street hypnotis. Also Darren Brown done it a few times (I think) which look like it's the real deal.

Derren Brown isn't exactly known for being completely upfront about his methods.

I'm of the opinion that you can't be made to do anything against your nature, and individual susceptibility depends a lot on the person in question.
As has already been said, "The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded."

 

[Layz92]

I think it is entirely possible. Maybe not the panacea some make it out to be, but surely viable in it's results. If it goes against who you are (making a hindu follower pray to the cristian god for example) I would think it wouldn't work. On a side note I would like to get a insomniac to go to a stereotypical one, "you are getting very sleepy" "rack off, for the last time, I'm not!".

 

[hypermage]

I believe in it in as much as believe in any other pseudoscience.

 

[FlamingSquirrel]

It does work, although not for everyone - it depends almost entirely on how suggestible a person is.

 

[BonsaiK]

But my question remains, Do you believe?

It's real, it exists. Your question is like asking "do you believe in chairs?". There's nothing to believe, when such a thing does actually exist.

That doesn't mean however that hypnotism can't be faked, as it often is in magic shows etc. It also doesn't mean that just anybody can be hypnotized. Some people are simply not susceptible.

 

[DefunctTheory]

But my question remains, Do you believe?

It's real, it exists. Your question is like asking "do you believe in chairs?". There's nothing to believe, when such a thing does actually exist.

That doesn't mean however that hypnotism can't be faked, as it often is in magic shows etc. It also doesn't mean that just anybody can be hypnotized. Some people are simply not susceptible.

As this fellow says, there is no belief in something that is observable.

Hypnotism is real. That's it.

 

[silasbufu]

I just can't believe that someone can make you remember every little detail of some traumatizing event that happened decades ago, like I see in the movies when someone represses a memory. And I seriously don't believe in that "old-school" hypnotism that meant forcing someone to do something against his/her will.

Sure, as the ones above said, they exist, but I don't believe they're genuine.

 

[mexicola]

If by "believe" you mean I think it's possible - yeah it's not fantasy that shit can be done. But if "believe in" you mean propagate, think it's good(?) or something like that - no. Or more accurately I have no passionate opinion on the matter.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Yep pretty much when I had watched this documtary about some people who had their lives ruin from street hypnotis. Also Darren Brown done it a few times (I think) which look like it's the real deal.

Oh god, you didn't just say that?

Saying you believe in hypnotism because Derren Brown did it is like saying you believe in psychic spoon bending because James Randi did it. You are aware that Derren Brown is all about showing that such things are hoaxes, I hope.

Hypnotism exists and works with various levels of success, as has been scientifically proven, and is a recognised tool in psychoanalysis, as far as I'm aware.

No, it most fucking certainly is neither scientifically proven nor recognized at all as a tool in psychoanalysis, except by quacks who want to get at your money by pretending to be professionals when they don't even have a diploma. The hint is in that those people are never ever actual medical professionals.

I think I need to post a specific episode of Bullshit! by Penn & Teller on this issue, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xShWMgVKJuQ

Ok in hindsight I should really thought about it more. Granted I still stand by my opinion since I have seen other videoes on it that isn't Darren Brown.