Suggestibility!

Thanks a lot.

Before I end, I want to something about suggestibility – nothing new, already known to everybody. Dr. Erickson ever objected to this word since he was a student. This word has association with manipulation and domination – submission view of hypnosis whereas Dr. Erickson viewed hypnosis as facilitation of human potential – learning. In trance state the subject can easily reorganize his/her psychological structure in response to suggestions. But the word suggestibility is not appropriate because if a suggestion does not satisfy the subject’s own unconscious need in any way, it will fail even if repeated several times. So it is not perfect to say: trance = focused attention + suggestibility. Rather, Dr. Erickson’s definition is “Therapeutic trance is focused attention directed in the best manner possible to achieve the patient’s goals”. Probably, we are looking at the same responsive state from different viewpoint, with the advantage of more sense of control for the subject and less resistance. But I cannot help wondering how you put subjects in such a state where they (are suggestible / can reorganize their psychological structure easily).

Thanking you again.
Chayan Das.

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