A skeptic's deep dive into hypnosis

You're getting very sleeeeeeeeepy. Sleeeeeeeeeeepyyyyyyy. In one form or another, hypnotic trances have been interwoven throughout human history, manifesting in various forms, from the rituals of ancient shamans and healers to the profound experiences guided by spiritual leaders. But hypnosis has also been (and continues to become) a popular tool for use in therapy. But what, exactly, is going on? Is the hypnotic state legit? And if so, what is it? And if not...well then what?

In this deep dive into the world of hypnosis, I'm going to try to untangle this fascinating phenomenon from every angle. There are so many complex mysteries surrounding hypnosis, from the state versus non-state debate to the latest research findings. We'll journey through the history of hypnosis, debunking myths along the way and uncovering the truth behind its efficacy as a therapeutic tool.

But this isn't just an academic exploration, it's a personal journey too. As someone who has been a long-time skeptic, I feel compelled to learn more. I'm pretty surprised by what I found. So whether you're a doubter yourself or a curious believer, join me on this thought-provoking adventure into the realm of hypnosis. Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments below—I'd love to hear your thoughts and takeaways.

HUGE thanks to Rohin from Medlife Crisis, WonderWhy, and Thomas Rintoul for lending their voices for the amazing voiceovers. Go check out their YouTube channels! I've linked them in my pinned comment below.

0:00 - I'm a non-believer
1:57 - Hypnosis in ancient history
3:04 - Mesmer and magnetic powers
10:35 - The debunking of animal magnetism
12:27 - Hypnosis gets scientific
18:02 - Freud shows up lol
19:36 - A casual mention of stage hypnosis
20:24 - How therapists hypnotize people
25:21 - What hypnosis feels like...and not
26:49 - A significant risk with hypnosis
28:14 - The big debate: state or nonstate
30:22 - Self-report and biological research
33:36 - Psychological research
39:57 - Research supporting a nonstate
44:25 - A deceptive test of hypnotizability
47:45 - So is hypnosis real?
52:07 - Where I land

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[neurotransmissions]

If you heard the voiceovers in the video and said, "Damn, those were some alluring voices. I wonder who they are?" Well have I got some YouTube channels for you:


Also, There are many things that I wish I could’ve touched on in this video, but simply ran out of time before I had to stop writing and film the dang thing. One interesting area I wish I’d explored further is the unexpected overlap of people involved in hypnosis and people involved in neurolinguistic programming (NLP). I briefly touched on NLP in my EMDR video, too, but I anticipate it will be a future video topic. The short summary of NLP is that it’s a pseudoscience that claims to give people the ability to manipulate their perceptions, behaviors, and communication patterns to achieve whatever goal they want. Hypnosis was adopted as a technique used in NLP, but it makes some people in the hypnosis community very angry because they perceive it as a “bastardization”, total misunderstanding, or oversimplification of hypnosis. As such, they want nothing to do with NLP. But many others dip their toes into both. I’m not sure what other connections exist there, as I haven’t had enough time to further investigate.

[minoyd]

Hysteria went away as an official diagnosis, but very much remained an idea in the culture. Would love to see it unpacked

[nextworld]

A Navy training incident in 1975 gave me nightmares and intrusive thoughts during the day. It affected my work and home. Finally, a therapist trained in hypnotism gave me EMDR therapy, which is kind of like a hypnotic thing. In 6 weeks, 40 years of nightmares was GONE. Random intrusive angry thoughts: gone. The last eight years have been much, much better.

[timkempuk]

I went for hypnotherapy and did not have a clue if it helped or not until my friends told me how much my confidence had improved. So it seems it did work. 😊

[binglemarie]

Yes to a video on hysteria! As a woman disabled by invisible ailments, I'm very interested in how I would have been viewed historically.

[kristinwright]

"Just" a placebo effect. Has anyone ever considered how powerful that is? That it is being convinced that a therapy works so therefore it does? How powerful is that? Seems to me that our brains can come up with healing for our body. We just need to figure out how to make that work more reliably.

[chasehughesofficial]

As an expert, I've not seen a video more honest and direct about hypnosis. Great job, man.

[fanofentropy]

From the context of the Victorian era, I've always been under the impression that hysteria was just polite Victorian word for horny.

[winonadavies]

I'm a therapist who uses hypnotherapy in some (fairly limited context) cases. Particularly with clients who have a high level of symbolic thinking and often with highly artistic or creative minds. I like using for myself on occasion to help with specific behaviors. I like your take, and your research. It is useful, and yes, it's not the "magic bullet" that some of my clients want it to be. Thanks.

[lostboytnt]

This reminds me of a survey result I came across once..
When being surveyed, 100% of the participants answered 'I don't mind taking surveys', while a shocking 0% answered 'I don't like taking surveys'

[amyg]

My mother urged me to see a hypnotherapist in my twenties, she was very concerned about my crippling anxiety and depression. I had no life outside my house, I had horrible self esteem. I hated myself and hated my brain, I felt defective. I saw the hypnotherapist and was instructed to move a finger for yes or no. Apparently I talked during the session too. I have zero recollection of the entire 2 hour hypnosis session. Afterwards, the hypnotherapist stated that he had asked me my earliest memory about my fear. He said I responded “it was dark, I could hear my mom. She was scared about a smell and worried I would be damaged”. I asked my mom about it and she broke down crying. She said she was anxious throughout her whole pregnancy. She inhaled the vapours from moth balls and thought she had damaged my brain. She obsessed about it for months.

[MedlifeCrisis]

Just had to pause to comment on the hilarity of the Jesuit priest being called Hell

[FlameGorgoneion]

I use hypnosis within a non-state, neo-braidian theoretical framework - psychosocial that is - and in conjunction with CBT, that is Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH) among other things. I found your video accurate and very informative and kudos to you for this scientific divulgation effort. I wish more of this quality content could be found in the field of psychology today! You actually inspired me to go and read Braid, to whom we owe the word "hypnosis", as well as "psychophysiology", I always wanted to read his diaries and collected works, but never got around to do so. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[alexiscc]

I took part in a study on hypnosis and pain not so long ago! Suuper fascinating stuff! Conducted in a cognitive neuroscience research center in my city. The core of the study was a day in their lab, in a jacket sitting in a comfy armchair with electrodes on my head and a little elsewhere. I especially had an electrode on my leg that sent me painful electric shocks. While I was under hypnosis, they would send cycles of shocks of varying intensity (from imperceptible to almost unbearable) accompanied by different suggestion techniques to see I would feel the intensity shocks differently throughout my body and how the effect of hypnosis varied under different amount of pain.

At the end, the hypnotherapist told me to get up and sit on a chair further back in the room at the snap of his fingers. But I stayed sitting in my chair because I did'nt feel like moving and it felt a bit awkward to just watch her snap her fingers and then stare at me as I just stayed silent in my big armchair. But after I'd put my clothes back on, as a researcher was escorting me out, she told me with a smile that the electric shocks were constant, that they'd never changed during the session.

I was stunned. I went in there because I found the idea of being hypnotized fun, and I certainly felt a very pleasant state of flow while I was there. But I was still thinking reflexively I felt in control. I thought hypnosis had slightly changed my perception of pain, but I never expected that simply with a woman talking reassuringly to me, unbearable pain could become as subtle as a mosquito bite.

Yes, it all happened in my head and I imagined it all because I wanted to please the researchers and because I wanted it to be real. But the effect on pain perception was wild and as real as a sensation can be. And I guess that's the point.

[nonlocalconsciousness]

Excellent video! My entire career revolves around hypnosis research. I'm the "Alldredge, C. T." who wrote "Meta-analytic evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and somatic health issues: A 20-year perspective" included in your references list.

Again, wonderful video. I'm going to keep it handy to refer to people (when meeting with new patients or conducting hypnosis trainings) because it's so well done.

[croozerdog]

it's always good to remember that placebo is one hell of a drug

[slmille]

As far as the state vs non-state debate, you missed some important research "Cerebral activation during hypnotically induced and imagined pain". They found that participants were given the suggestion that, following a cue, a painful heat stimulus would be delivered to their right hand. In one, the heat stimulus was administered, creating an actual pain experience, whereas in the second the cue was not followed by the stimulus and acted as a suggestion to experience pain. In the third condition, the participants were told that there would be no pain stimulus following the cue but that they should “imagine the pain as clearly as possible.” Pain ratings taken after each trial demonstrated that the participants experienced pain in the first two conditions (physically induced and suggestion-induced pain). In addition, they confirmed that they imagined pain clearly in the third condition. The fMRI data showed activation of pain-related areas in the first two conditions but not in the imagined condition.

[LilFeralGangrel]

My own perception of hypnosis as a non-psychologist, hypnotic trance and all trance are just different forms of I came to this conclusion with my own experience in the BDSM community and reading research on "subspace" and it made me immediately think of my experience with "hypnotic trance". That article described subspace as a form of dissociation.

This also explains why some people just don't go under trance. They A) don't believe in it but also B) don't consent to it and will likely have little rapport with the hypnotist. Dissociation is a highly vulnerable state. That's also why "subs" in BDSM can only go in subspace while in a scene with a "dom" they trust.

This also further reflects in how the hypno community talks about steps towards hypnosis, Rapport, Rapport Rapport. Hypnosis without consent is impossible.

[doktormcnasty]

Just before that Brilliant ad dropped I was 110% sure I was gonna get Rick Rolled.

[YoungMeschaLakes]

I'm currently doing CBT with Hypnotherapy for personal stuff. I'm two months in, and it is working well for me. I love everything shared in this video. My therapist shared the issue with using hypnosis for smoking (not my issue).

Totally agree that this is not for everyone, but I have tried just about everything else. My sessions are wonderful. Note that I have had meditation practices my whole life.

To me, hypnosis is a guided state of meditation. I love it.

Great video essay. Thank you.