Anyone who thinks hypnosis "doesn't exist" or or can't be detected as being any different than normal waking consciousness should reed Hypnosis: The Application Of Ideomotor Techniques by David B. Cheek, M.D. In Chapter 6 (entitled "Trance Phenomena"), he gives no less than SEVENTEEN indications of varying levels of trance states.

The disagreement between State and Non-State theorists revolves around whether there is a measurable difference between a hypnotized person and a non-hypnotized person. There is no disagreement about whether or not hypnosis exists; both sides agree that hypnosis does exist. They disagree about whether hypnosis is a different “State” of mind when viewed from a physiological perspective.

A brief statement of the situation is that the physical responses of hypnotized and non-hypnotized persons are indistinguishable from one another. Measures of pulse rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, and pupil dilation, sensitivity to changes in physical pressure, temperature, light, sound, smell, and taste are all identical for the two groups.

This hardly means that hypnosis does not exist; it is simply an objective observation of physical responses.

Millard

That's interesting, Millard123. May I ask where you got your data.


Peter

Please see “They Call It Hypnosis” by Robert A. Baker. In chapter three of this book you will find a large amount of research by both state and non-state theorists including references to their published research.

Millard

Millard123,

Thanks for getting back to me.


Peter