Since time immemorial, man has strived to understand the secrets of nature and himself, as its important part. Among the ways of influencing the world, suggestion opened up new opportunities for people and was considered a magical and healing tool of shamans and priests who changed the perception and thinking of the person to whom the suggestion was directed.
What is suggestion?
Suggestion is (Latin suggestio - suggestion, advice) - a special kind of verbal and non-verbal influence on the human psyche, to introduce attitudes, programs into the subconscious for manipulative or therapeutic purposes. As a result of suggestion:
- change of state;
- encouragement to action.
Suggestion is involved in many areas of society:
- medicine;
- psychology, psychiatry;
- Show Business;
- works of art, fiction, music;
- advertising;
- MASS MEDIA;
- jurisprudence;
- military structures;
- religion;
- policy;
- sport.
Suggestion is divided into:
- Autosuggestion
is self-hypnosis. Pronunciation of attitudes, affirmations, texts by a person to himself. Autogenic training. - Heterosuggestion
is the influence of the suggestor (the one who suggests) on the suggestor (the one who is influenced).
A new method of influencing the body
Suggestive therapy will help eliminate pain, get rid of mental wounds and cure bodily ailments. This term, incomprehensible to the common man, hides an effective method of influencing the human body. This form of therapy eliminates various diseases with the help of psychological attitudes that are instilled in a person under hypnosis. During the session, the doctor asks the patient verbal affirmations that help him restore health and give up addictions (smoking, alcoholism, drugs).
The main thing is that all words that are used during the treatment process must have a positive form and not carry a negative meaning for the patient.
The most common methods of suggestive therapy are hypnosis, suggestion methods and auto-training. A person enters a state of hypnosis as a result of the influence of a doctor. This is neither sleep nor wakefulness; in this state, his consciousness is open to external influences, and his senses are heightened.
To create the necessary mood in the patient, as well as to stimulate him to certain actions, doctors use verbal and non-verbal methods of suggestion. During the sessions, the patient’s emotional mood changes, confidence in a speedy recovery and determination are gained, and the somatic functions of the body are activated. The patient can use this psychological technique independently, during self-hypnosis (auto-training), changing the state of his health, instilling positive psychological attitudes.
How effective therapy will be depends on:
- the age of the patient (children are much easier to suggest and hypnotize);
- general well-being (people with weakened immune systems react faster to external influences);
- experience and professionalism of the suggestor (the patient must trust his psychotherapist);
- individual character traits of the patient;
- social attitudes that the patient acquired during his life.
To induce a hypnotic state, the doctor can use various techniques. In addition to verbal forms, monotonous sounds (metronome, recording of dripping water, buzzer) and tactile stimuli (monotonous touches, fixing the patient’s attention with objects, passes) are used.
Hypnosuggestive therapy helps to cope with many different diseases.
Suggestive abilities
Suggestive hypnosis is an influence aimed at a person with the goal of immersing him in a special state of consciousness, in which criticism of what is happening is reduced, barriers are removed and information penetrates directly into the subconscious. Suggestive abilities can be transmitted genetically (gypsy hypnosis), but like any talents, suggestive abilities must be developed. Qualities that a suggestor must have in order to effectively influence and inspire:
- strong will;
- concentration;
- self confidence;
- mastery of self-regulation techniques;
- centered gaze;
- charm, charisma;
- intellectual superiority;
- tone, timbre, rhythm of speech, tuned in a certain way.
Indications for hypnotic therapy
Hypnosuggestion is used for neurological diseases. Doctors recommend using this method to treat neuroses, neurasthenia, insomnia, prolonged depression, mental disorders that lead to stuttering, and speech problems. Hypnosis is often used in group psychotherapy sessions to combat various fears and phobias. It reduces anxiety and restlessness, stabilizes the emotional background, and relieves obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Hypnotic sleep effectively helps to cure children from diseases such as nervous tics, hysterical disorder, speech impairment, severe fear, and nocturnal enuresis. Children easily succumb to hypnosis, receiving positive instructions from the doctor, and very quickly restore their health. The method helps to cope with bad childhood habits, and in adolescence it normalizes deviant behavior.
Hypnosis effectively helps to cope with skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis, lichen, warts and erythema). Physicians have increasingly begun to use hypnosuggestive psychotherapy to treat people with bronchial asthma, brain disorders, hypertension, angina pectoris, ulcers and other problems of the gastrointestinal tract, allergies, and dysmenorrhea. Hypnosis not only improves a person’s general condition by reducing the symptoms of the disease, but also helps to cope with anxiety, fear, and depression.
Foreign doctors widely use hypnosuggestion during dental operations instead of anesthesia. Hypnosis allows you to quickly put the patient to sleep, reducing pain during the operation. Hypnosis is no less effective in dealing with such harmful addictions as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.
Suggestion and counter-suggestion
Suggestive methods of influence reduce a person’s criticality and create a state of trust, especially in a crowd. A person becomes infected with other people's ideas and attitudes. In the course of history, people develop a feeling of protest in response to manipulation, “isolation” and distrust begin to increase, and this is how counter-suggestions manifest themselves - everything that is instilled at the level of the state, religion, and the media is subject to internal criticism. Counter-suggestion develops from mistrust into defiance. Positive aspects of counter-suggestion:
- the exit of a particular person beyond the “we” of the group;
- development of new traditions and norms in society, a way out of “stagnation”.
Autogenic training
Psychotherapists suggest that the patient use a method of relaxation such as autogenic training, when, in the process of complete relaxation or trance, a person conducts a self-hypnosis session. This method of influence was developed on the basis of Eastern practices by the German psychiatrist Johann Schulz in 1932.
Doctors use specially designed exercises to relax muscles, normalize heartbeat, regulate breathing rhythm, and work with internal experiences. Unlike hypnosis, autogenic training involves the active involvement of the patient in the meditative process. Such treatment sessions are carried out 4-5 times a day. The first month of treatment, meditation lasts literally a few minutes. Their time gradually increases, but the total does not exceed 30 minutes. The patient trains under the close supervision of a doctor. The treatment course lasts 9-12 months.
Suggestion in psychology
What is suggestion in psychology? Most special teaching aids interpret it as a therapeutic effect on the psyche affecting emotions and perception. The following areas of psychology actively use suggestion:
- psychosomatics;
- psychoanalysis;
- NLP.
Suggestive attitudes inspired by the psychotherapist penetrate deeply into the patient’s subconscious and positive effects are achieved:
- effective treatment of phobias, neuroses, depression;
- getting rid of destructive habits (smoking, alcoholism)
- formation of new patterns.
Suggestive techniques in psychotherapy
In order for a suggestive method chosen specifically for a specific client or group of people to work as best as possible, a number of conditions are necessary:
- A psychotherapist who inspires trust and authority.
- The suggested formula should be brief, targeted, imperative.
- The following are taken into account: the psychological state, individual age and characterological parameters of the client.
- Compliance of the suggestion formula with the goals of therapy.
Suggestive techniques and methods are divided into:
- verbal;
- non-verbal.
The main or key element in a suggestion is the word. In V. Shefner’s poem “Words,” there are lines that show the power and strength of speech influence: “With a word you can kill, with a word you can save, with a word you can lead shelves!” Verbal techniques in psychotherapy include:
- Suggestion in the waking state
. The “fatherly” method assumes imperativeness. Directive, demanding and authoritarian style of instilling commands: “go!”, “act!”, “you will do it!”. The “maternal method” is soft, enveloping the patient in calm: “relax!”, “calm down!”. - Suggestion during sleep
. The therapist makes adjustments to the sleeping person: he puts his hand on the forehead and speaks phrases, sometimes at a slow, sometimes at a fast pace, while monitoring the patient’s breathing: if it changes, then the person is ready for suggestion. - Hypnosuggestive techniques
. The therapist induces a special dream-like state in the client called hypnosis. During this state, control is removed, attention is reduced, and it becomes possible to program treatment programs into the patient’s subconscious. - Autosuggestion
. Hypnoautogenic training. Human consciousness is directed from external to internal processes by pronouncing formulas.
Nonverbal “wordless” suggestion techniques:
- Marking
. Isolation of a reference phrase with the addition of gestures and manipulations with objects. - Telepathy
. Mental transmission of suggestion. The technique is based on the attunement of the biorhythms of the suggestor and the suggestor, it requires sustained concentration and attention on the object, for this it is important to get used to the image.
Classification
Direct suggestions
- explicit direct
- direct camouflaged (something is offered openly, but at the same time it is camouflaged, since part of it comes from the client; teaches the client to act in a special way)
- post-hypnotic
Indirect suggestions
- sequence of acceptance, “yes set” (several statements with which a person will agree)
- “You came to me, sit now in this soft chair, listen to my voice, today you will feel much better” (“today you will feel much better” - this, in fact, is a suggestion, and the words that follow it set the person up for agreement )
- “Why not let it happen?”
- "Do not go into trance until you are comfortable in this chair" (implication added)
- “Do not take a deep breath until your hand touches your face” (implication added)
- “You will not know how pleasant you can be in a trance until your hand is completely on your thigh” (implication added)
- "You don't need to do (anything)
until
(inevitable customer behavior occurs in the near future)
" - shock, surprise, creative moments
- banality (hard to reject)
- “When you sit comfortably, you can relax”
- “Every person goes into trance differently”
- “People forget so much. Keys, phone numbers, meetings..." (amnesia is structured)
- any proverbs and sayings
- “Your headache may go away now, as soon as your unconscious mind is ready to let it go.”
- “Your symptom may now disappear once your unconscious mind understands that you can deal with the problem in a more constructive way.”
- ideomotor (we want to cause ideomotor reactions - movement)
Open (says something will happen, but doesn't specify what it is)
- mobilizing (undefined mobilizing frameworks are offered, which the person fills out himself, depending on his own resources; a pause is made after the mobilizing words)
- “Your unconscious mind will put everything you need in its place.”
- “Using your unconscious resources will allow (pause)
to accomplish
(pause)
this work.” - “Your unconscious can harmonize (pause)
everything that needs to be harmonized” - limited open (limited choices offered that are not specified; typically things that are difficult to reject)
- “You can learn in different ways”;
- "There are different ways to work"
- “Some poses make you feel comfortable.”
- covering all the capabilities of the class (after listing all the capabilities, you should add “or something else”)
Self-hypnosis
Self-hypnosis is the suggestion of ideas, thoughts, and feelings to oneself. For example, those recommended by a doctor and aimed at eliminating painful phenomena and improving overall well-being. Self-hypnosis is implemented through autogenic training, which the patient learns with the help of a psychotherapist. A person independently reads (to himself or out loud) or simply thinks through and pronounces certain words or entire phrases in order to influence himself.
Self-hypnosis can have an incomparably more powerful effect on the individual compared to outside suggestion. This is explained by the fact that a person can practice self-hypnosis independently indefinitely throughout his life.
Suggestion in advertising
Any advertising is a manipulation of consciousness through influencing people’s feelings and emotions. Specialists in promoting certain products try to present the product in such a way as to involve all the main human sensory systems: vision, hearing, taste, tactile sensations. Suggestive advertising copy uses keywords for impact and is supported by a vivid picture.
Suggestive techniques in advertising
Suggestive approach in advertising - main types of influence:
- Influence on emotional-figurative thinking
. The advantages of the product are presented in a bright emotional “wrapper”, which reduces criticism. When purchasing an apartment with a mortgage, a car on credit: “Have you ever cried with happiness?” - Text
. Informing the population: “Do you want to become healthy/slim/strong?” There is an incentive for a person to take a product from a particular company. - Symbols
. In advertising, this is a trademark – a logo. The image captured in the symbol allows you to influence a person’s emotions and make the brand recognizable. - Tagline
. The company’s short motto, aimed at introducing into the subconscious through the client’s values: “We care about each of you!” - Using a specific color palette
. Colors are absorbed by the human nervous system by 80%, and only 20% is due to vision - this is explained by the fact that each color has a stereotypical meaning:
- yellow – sunny, warm, active;
- red – energy, drive, excitement;
- blue - trust, calm, relaxation;
- green - health (used in drug advertising);
- black - classic, authority.
Treatment with hypnotic suggestion
Doctors distinguish 3 main stages of the hypnotic state. The classification was proposed by the Russian psychoneurologist Valery Bekhterev in 1911. Subsequently, it was significantly supplemented and expanded by his students.
- Drowsiness. During the session, the patient falls into a light drowsy state. He is aware of everything that happens to him. Despite the perceived weakness in the body, he can stand up, open his eyes, interrupting the session at his own request. After the procedure, he recovers very quickly and returns to his normal state. The person does not realize that he was in a dream.
- In the language of science, this stage is called middle sleep or hypotoxicity. During hypnosis, a person's senses become dull, the thought process slows down, the body becomes lethargic, and mobility is limited. After the session, patients admit that they distantly heard the doctor's voice and other sounds, but did not want to wake up to see what was happening. The patient experiences post-hypnotic amnesia.
- Somnambulism. In this state, the patient completely disconnects from the outside world, maintaining contact only with the doctor who conducts the session. The patient is not only disoriented, but also has complete amnesia: everything that happened during the session is completely erased from his memory.
By a person’s appearance (level of breathing, eyelid trembling, reaction to sounds), a specialist can determine at what stage of hypnotic sleep his patient is.
It is very important to properly organize the process of dehypnotization (coming out of a state of hypnosis) in order to consolidate the positive attitudes used to treat the patient
During hypnosis, general suggestions can be used to help relieve pain, improve a person’s well-being, raise the body’s defenses, restore energy tone, and get rid of traumatic memories. Special settings are used in specific psychological situations that worry the patient and which can provoke the development of the disease.
Suggestion in politics
Suggestive techniques have been adopted by politicians. Modern political discourse (speech) uses such a suggestive technique as hedging - a veiled speech influence on mass consciousness. Main elements of hedging:
- appealing to socially accepted traditions and values;
- abstract speech (minimum specifics, vague judgments);
- atypical grammatical structures;
- detachment from speech, increased objectivity in statements.
Impact on consciousness through self-suggestion
Most often, doctors recommend using the method developed by the French pharmacist and psychologist Emile Coue. The treatment proposed by the doctor allows you to replace harmful psychological attitudes with positive ones that have a beneficial effect on the body. The healing formula consists of simple and positive statements: “Every day I get better and better!”, “I am full of strength and energy that heal my body!”, “I am healthy and feel great!”.
Don’t be embarrassed if the phrases sound somehow childish and not serious. Since at this moment a person turns to his subconscious, the words need to be selected as simple as possible. The process of suggestion should be effortless; if every day a person forces himself to use the self-hypnosis method, nothing good will come of it.
Phrases are selected during a consultation with a psychotherapist. Depending on the problem, a specialist will help you correct the resulting text.
It should be short - 2-3 sentences maximum. If we are talking about the fight against harmful addictions, then in this case the phrases used for self-hypnosis may take a more detailed form: “My decision to quit drinking is final and not subject to discussion. No matter how my friends persuade me and no matter what arguments they give, I will still remain in my opinion and will not drink! My decision is final!”
The self-hypnosis session does not last very long - 4-5 minutes. The course of treatment is from 1 to 2 months. During the session, the person should take a comfortable position and completely relax. Phrases should be repeated out loud several times in a row. This should be done slowly and without getting hung up on the content.
Contraindications for hypnosuggestive psychotherapy
Hypnosis is not used for delusional schizophrenia, Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome, psychosis, epilepsy, and people with developmental delays. This method of treatment is contraindicated for people who have had a heart attack or have cerebrovascular accidents. With such diagnoses, a person is prohibited from any anxiety, and hypnosis against a background of stress can provoke an exacerbation of the main symptoms of the disease.
Hypnotic therapy is also contraindicated if the person is not feeling well. With increased body temperature, general weakness, runny nose and cough, impaired consciousness
Hypnosis should not be used for pain of unknown etiology, since such symptoms may hide dangerous diseases (appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, burst cyst) that require surgical intervention.
