Covert Hypnosis
Encyclopedia
Covert hypnosis is the ability to subtly communicate with another person's unconscious mind without their noticing. As it often takes place in the course of a seemingly regular conversation, it is also known as conversational hypnosis or sleight of mouth
. The objective is to change the target’s behavior subconsciously so that the target believes that they changed their mind of their own volition. When performed successfully, the target is unaware that the practitioner has hypnotized them or that anything out of the ordinary happened.
Covert hypnosis is a phenomenon not too different from indirect hypnosis (as derived from Milton H. Erickson
popularised as The Milton Model
http://nlpuniversitypress.com/html2/Mi-My08.html) in style
but the defining feature is certainly the act of an individual subject becoming hypnotised and taking part in hypnotic phenomena without conscious effort/choice - covert hypnosis like "Ericksonian Hypnosis operates through covert and subtle means... to reach deeper levels of consciousness than are touched by the surface structure of language";
it is the concept that an individual, 'the hypnotist,' can control another individual's behavior via gaining rapport
(co-operation of their attention - as without rapport covert hypnosis does not take place)
with the subject and then making suggestions, the meanings of which the subject isn't fully consciously aware.
with the listener/s and the hypnotist maintains psychological congruency
[the act of truly acting towards your goals without hesitation] both linguistically and in one's nonverbal communication
while this relationship of the subject listening while feeling a psychological connection with the hypnotist and the hypnotist displaying behaviors such as confidence and understanding - the hypnotist then presents linguistic data in the form of metaphor "The Metaphor presents a surface structure of meaning in the actual words of the story, which activates an associated deep structure of meaning that is indirectly relevant to the listener, which activates a recovered deep structure of meaning that is directly relevant to the listener"
in other words; this process builds most likely unconscious states within the listener and then associates those states through covert conditioning (see Anchor (NLP)) also known as covert anchoring, thereby forming unconsciously controlled behaviors and thoughts. Often methods of tricking the listener to believe that the hypnotist is talking about something else other than the subject are employed, for instance by shifting use of time and use of identity in language; one famous example is employed by Milton H. Erickson "and a tomato can be happy".
's Mind Control, Series 2] and the listener's neurology has to access the association 'black cat' in order to understand the sentence there by the state of understanding a black cat has been accessed in the subject purely by exposure from the hypnotist.Here black cat even refers to a particular subject to which the hypnotist wants the listener to concentrate on.
has produced numerous effects which he claims to be achieved through forms of covert hypnosis. Such examples are:
The mentalist Luke Jermay
performs several feats in his mentalism tutorial video Skullduggery that he claims to be performed through using suggestions to affect the neurology of the participant.
Real estate trainer Glenn Twiddle recently appeared on the Australian television show A Current Affair. The segment explains how he teaches real estate agents these techniques to use on unsuspecting buyers of property. http://www.couriermail.com.au/property/real-estate-agents-use-hypnosis-to-seal-property-deals/story-e6frequ6-1225877624121
Sleight of mouth
Sleight of Mouth is a system of language patterns for persuasion. The concept was devised by Robert Dilts who modelled the argument and persuasion skills of Richard Bandler . By breaking down the methods, Dilts came up with 14 original patterns...
. The objective is to change the target’s behavior subconsciously so that the target believes that they changed their mind of their own volition. When performed successfully, the target is unaware that the practitioner has hypnotized them or that anything out of the ordinary happened.
Covert hypnosis is a phenomenon not too different from indirect hypnosis (as derived from Milton H. Erickson
Milton H. Erickson
Milton Hyland Erickson, was an American psychiatrist specializing in medical hypnosis and family therapy...
popularised as The Milton Model
Milton model
The Milton Model is a model for indirect interpersonal communications inspired by psychiatrist and pioneer of medical hypnosis, Milton H. Erickson. The model was created by linguist John Grinder and Richard Bandler, the co-founders of neuro-linguistic programming . It is described by the authors as...
http://nlpuniversitypress.com/html2/Mi-My08.html) in style
but the defining feature is certainly the act of an individual subject becoming hypnotised and taking part in hypnotic phenomena without conscious effort/choice - covert hypnosis like "Ericksonian Hypnosis operates through covert and subtle means... to reach deeper levels of consciousness than are touched by the surface structure of language";
it is the concept that an individual, 'the hypnotist,' can control another individual's behavior via gaining rapport
Rapport
Rapport is a term used to describe, in common terms, the relationship of two or more people who are in sync or on the same wavelength because they feel similar and/or relate well to each other....
(co-operation of their attention - as without rapport covert hypnosis does not take place)
with the subject and then making suggestions, the meanings of which the subject isn't fully consciously aware.
How it works
The hypnotist gains rapportwith the listener/s and the hypnotist maintains psychological congruency
[the act of truly acting towards your goals without hesitation] both linguistically and in one's nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch , by body language or posture, by facial expression and eye contact...
while this relationship of the subject listening while feeling a psychological connection with the hypnotist and the hypnotist displaying behaviors such as confidence and understanding - the hypnotist then presents linguistic data in the form of metaphor "The Metaphor presents a surface structure of meaning in the actual words of the story, which activates an associated deep structure of meaning that is indirectly relevant to the listener, which activates a recovered deep structure of meaning that is directly relevant to the listener"
in other words; this process builds most likely unconscious states within the listener and then associates those states through covert conditioning (see Anchor (NLP)) also known as covert anchoring, thereby forming unconsciously controlled behaviors and thoughts. Often methods of tricking the listener to believe that the hypnotist is talking about something else other than the subject are employed, for instance by shifting use of time and use of identity in language; one famous example is employed by Milton H. Erickson "and a tomato can be happy".
A basic example
The hypnotist says, "don't think of a black cat" [quoted from Derren BrownDerren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
's Mind Control, Series 2] and the listener's neurology has to access the association 'black cat' in order to understand the sentence there by the state of understanding a black cat has been accessed in the subject purely by exposure from the hypnotist.Here black cat even refers to a particular subject to which the hypnotist wants the listener to concentrate on.
A more complicated example
A state of forgetfulness can be elicited by talking about what it feels like to be in that state in a manner that implies the other person is currently experiencing it; once this state is at a heightened peak the hypnotist can then talk about that state relating to a concept like the unsuspecting subject's name (a phenomenon called name amnesia) and the subject will suddenly be unaware of his/her name on questioning (provided the suggestions implied immediate effect and the reader is suggestible enough to be influenced in this way). The purpose of covert hypnosis is to shut down or at least reduce the use of analytical mind in a person. This can be achieved fairly quickly by someone with practice - very often seen in a good used car salesman.Signs you aren't using analytical mind
You are absorbed in a conversation to the point where a viewer would say you were "lost in the moment". You vividly follow what someone is saying and mentally agree with their position even if this is out of your character. You take in information without questioning its origin and validity and you respond to emotionally descriptive language (language patterns, again seen in an expert salesperson).Covert hypnosis in the media
The psychological illusionist Derren BrownDerren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
has produced numerous effects which he claims to be achieved through forms of covert hypnosis. Such examples are:
- Note: The majority of these examples are presentational story lines of professional magicians. The belief that these tricks use hypnosis is equal to believing anything you may see on a television entertainment program to be factual.
- The Lost Taxi Driver - Derren Brown appears to use covert hypnosis to elicit a state of amnesia in a London taxi driver.http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/M/mindcontrol/trick/lost.html
- The Magic Doll - Here he is seen to use a combination of indirect/covert hypnosis to cause a state in an unsuspecting woman.http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/M/mindcontrol/trick/doll.html
The mentalist Luke Jermay
Luke Jermay
Luke Jermay is an English magician, mentalist, and writer.-Early life:Jermay was born to a single mother, Jacqueline Jermey on March 7, 1985 in Essex, England. Jermay studied magic and magic theory, has written many books on his art and has performed magic since the age of 12...
performs several feats in his mentalism tutorial video Skullduggery that he claims to be performed through using suggestions to affect the neurology of the participant.
Real estate trainer Glenn Twiddle recently appeared on the Australian television show A Current Affair. The segment explains how he teaches real estate agents these techniques to use on unsuspecting buyers of property. http://www.couriermail.com.au/property/real-estate-agents-use-hypnosis-to-seal-property-deals/story-e6frequ6-1225877624121
See also
- Stephen BrooksStephen Brooks (hypnotherapist)Stephen Haig Brooks, is a British hypnotherapist and a pioneer in the development of indirect hypnosis...
- Highway hypnosisHighway hypnosisHighway hypnosis, also popularly known as driving without attention mode or white line fever, is a mental state in which a person can drive a truck or automobile great distances, responding to external events in the expected manner with no recollection of having consciously done so...
- History of hypnosisHistory of hypnosisThis article is about the development of concepts, beliefs and practices related to hypnosis and hypnotherapy from prehistoric to modern times.Although often viewed as one continuous history, the term hypnosis only gained widespread use in the 1880s, initially amongst those influenced by the...
- HypnagogiaHypnagogiaHypnagogia is the transitional state between wakefulness and sleep , originally coined in adjectival form as "hypnagogic" by Alfred Maury....
- Hypnosis in popular cultureHypnosis in popular cultureFor over a century hypnosis has been a popular theme in fiction and music; it features in film from almost their inception and more recently has been depicted in television and online media...
- HypnosisHypnosisHypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
- HypnotherapyHypnotherapyHypnotherapy is a therapy that is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.The word "hypnosis" is an abbreviation of James Braid's term "neuro-hypnotism", meaning "sleep of the nervous system"....
- Ecquso - Conversational Hypnosis