Scientology and hypnosis
Encyclopedia
The Church of Scientology officially denies that it uses hypnosis
as part of its beliefs and practices
. Individuals admitting to having had hypnosis, as either a participant or practitioner, are not permitted to undergo training due to the possibility of harm caused by the prior exposure to hypnosis. Scientology has, nonetheless, been subject throughout its history to accusations that it covertly uses hypnosis to gain control over its members.
was known to his associates in the late 1940s as a talented hypnotist.
During this period, he worked in Hollywood posing as a swami
.
The Church says that Hubbard's experience with hypnosis led him to create Dianetics
as an alternative means to solve man's problems.
's official position on hypnosis is that it is a dangerous and undesirable practice. Whereas hypnotism's goal is to place a person in "a state of lessened awareness (i.e. trance)", Scientology's stated goal is to put people into the opposite state - one of higher awareness.
. These drills are sometimes done for several hours at a time, "until the preclear can do it without delay, without protest, without apathy, but with cheerfulness." This however is a confusion on her part since drills are only used during the training of auditors. At these times no "preclears" are present.
In his book The Creation of Human Ability, Hubbard denied the hypnotic nature of the processes and drills. He stated: "(They) induce no trances. People who think so simply don't know much about hypnotism."
A 2005 article in the Miami Herald quoted Scientology critic David Touretzky as saying "It's very clear that what they're doing is putting people into a light trance". This article also included comments from a man named Peter Alexander who said that after spending years undergoing the "hypnotic repetition" of Scientology, they began training him to communicate with "dead space aliens called Body Thetan
s."
A 2010 article in Ynet
quoted Dr. Alex Aviv, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Law of Hypnosis to the Israeli Ministry of Health as saying (in reference to Scientology) "they restore early memories, usually of traumas
, when in some cases this is a false memory
. When a patient 'remembers' a false event like that via a hypnotic process - the event can become real for him".
Volney Mathison
, an early collaborator with Hubbard who designed the precursor machine to the e-meter
, remarked in 1964, "I decry the doings of trivial fakers, such as scientologists and the like, who glibly denounce hypnosis and then try covertly to use it in their phony systems".
Hypnosis
Hypnosis 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...
as part of its beliefs and practices
Scientology beliefs and practices
Scientology is defined as a set of beliefs written by founder L. Ron Hubbard. Scientology describes itself as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others, and all of life...
. Individuals admitting to having had hypnosis, as either a participant or practitioner, are not permitted to undergo training due to the possibility of harm caused by the prior exposure to hypnosis. Scientology has, nonetheless, been subject throughout its history to accusations that it covertly uses hypnosis to gain control over its members.
Hubbard's experience with hypnosis
Scientology founder L. Ron HubbardL. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
was known to his associates in the late 1940s as a talented hypnotist.
During this period, he worked in Hollywood posing as a swami
Swami
A swami sometimes abbreviated "Sw." is an ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into the religious monastic order founded by Adi Sankara, or to a religious teacher.The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology as...
.
The Church says that Hubbard's experience with hypnosis led him to create Dianetics
Dianetics
Dianetics is a set of ideas and practices regarding the metaphysical relationship between the mind and body that was invented by the science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard and is practiced by followers of Scientology...
as an alternative means to solve man's problems.
Research claims of hypnosis in Scientology
Some researchers believe that Scientology uses a form of what is called authoritative hypnosis. In much of his Scientology and Dianetics writings, Hubbard often redefined common words and invented new words. According to The Anderson Report, Hubbard has done this with hypnotic phenomena also. It is also believed that Hubbard has attributed spiritual significance to the results of the hypnosis. Among the terms that Hubbard has used for documented stages of unconsciousness experiences in hypnosis are:- anaten
- boil-off
- dope-off
- mental image pictures (hypnotic hallucinations)
- exteriorization (Dissociation)
Scientology official statements on hypnosis
The Church of ScientologyChurch of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
's official position on hypnosis is that it is a dangerous and undesirable practice. Whereas hypnotism's goal is to place a person in "a state of lessened awareness (i.e. trance)", Scientology's stated goal is to put people into the opposite state - one of higher awareness.
Controversy
Margery Wakefield, in her book Understanding Scientology, noted the hypnotic nature of the extremely repetitive questioning done during drills in Scientology auditingAuditing (Scientology)
Auditing was developed by L. Ron Hubbard, and is described by the Church of Scientology as "spiritual counseling which is the central practice of Dianetics and Scientology".-Description:...
. These drills are sometimes done for several hours at a time, "until the preclear can do it without delay, without protest, without apathy, but with cheerfulness." This however is a confusion on her part since drills are only used during the training of auditors. At these times no "preclears" are present.
In his book The Creation of Human Ability, Hubbard denied the hypnotic nature of the processes and drills. He stated: "(They) induce no trances. People who think so simply don't know much about hypnotism."
A 2005 article in the Miami Herald quoted Scientology critic David Touretzky as saying "It's very clear that what they're doing is putting people into a light trance". This article also included comments from a man named Peter Alexander who said that after spending years undergoing the "hypnotic repetition" of Scientology, they began training him to communicate with "dead space aliens called Body Thetan
Body thetan
In Scientology, a thetan is the term corresponding to one's "spirit", and a Body Thetan is another thetan who is 'stuck' in, on or near a human "meat body" because of activities of an ancient Space opera figure named Xenu of the Galactic Confederacy. All human bodies were said by L...
s."
A 2010 article in Ynet
Ynet
Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...
quoted Dr. Alex Aviv, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Law of Hypnosis to the Israeli Ministry of Health as saying (in reference to Scientology) "they restore early memories, usually of traumas
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
, when in some cases this is a false memory
False memory
False memory syndrome describes a condition in which a person's identity and relationships are affected by memories which are factually incorrect but are strongly believed. Peter J...
. When a patient 'remembers' a false event like that via a hypnotic process - the event can become real for him".
Volney Mathison
Volney Mathison
Volney G. Mathison was an American chiropractor, writer, and inventor of the E-meter.-Family:In 1935, Mathison was married to Jean Darrell, a music librarian for NBC. She died in November 1964.-Writer:...
, an early collaborator with Hubbard who designed the precursor machine to the e-meter
E-meter
An E-meter is an electronic device used during Dianetics and Scientology auditing. The device is a variation of a Wheatstone bridge, which measures electrical resistance and skin conductance. It is formally known as the Hubbard Electrometer, for the Church's founder, L. Ron Hubbard...
, remarked in 1964, "I decry the doings of trivial fakers, such as scientologists and the like, who glibly denounce hypnosis and then try covertly to use it in their phony systems".