Contrary to what you probably think you know about hypnosis, it can be done very quickly and can be used to convince someone to do something they normally wouldn't--like, say,
giving away their wallet, phone, and keys to a stranger (English mentalist
Derren Brown). What's happening here is known as a
handshake induction, a technique pioneered by American psychiatrist
Milton Erickson. There are
other methods of rapid induction hypnosis. These methods, along with techniques of verbal suggestion, are used by practitioners of
Neuro-linguistic programming, a field which some have associated with Mr. Brown's performances, though
he denies it. I wonder, though, how he manages to get a cashier at a dog track
to pay out on a losing ticket?
[more inside]
posted by flotson
on May 11, 2008 -
79 comments
