THEORIES OF HYPNOTISM.
We have now learned some facts in regard to hypnotism;
but they leave the subject still a mystery. Other facts which will be
developed in the course of this book will only deepen the mystery. We will
therefore state some of the best known theories.
Before doing so, however, it would be well to state
concisely just what seems to happen in a case of hypnotism. The word
hypnotism means sleep, and the definition of hypnotism implies
artificially produced sleep. Sometimes this sleep is deep and lasting, and
the patient is totally insensible; but the interesting phase of the
condition is that in certain stages the patient is only partially asleep,
while the other part of his brain is awake and very active.
It is well known that one part of the brain may be
affected without affecting the other parts. In hemiplegia, for instance,
one half of the nervous system is paralyzed, while the other half is all
right. In the stages of hypnotism we will now consider, the will portion
of the brain or mind seems to be put to sleep, while the other faculties
are, abnormally awake. Some explain this by supposing that the blood is
driven out of one portion of the brain and driven into other portions. In
any case, it is as though the human engine were uncoupled, and the patient
becomes an automaton. If he is told to do this, that, or the other, he
does it, simply because his will is asleep and "suggestion", as it is
called, from without makes him act just as he starts up unconsciously in
his ordinary sleep if tickled with a straw.
Now for the theories. There are three leading theories,
known as that of 1. Animal Magnetism; 2. Neurosis; and 3. Suggestion. We
will simply state them briefly in order without discussion.
Animal Magnetism. This is the theory offered by Mesmer,
and those who hold it assume that "the hypnotizer exercises a force,
independently of suggestion, over the subject. They believe one part of
the body to be charged separately, or that the whole body may be filled
with magnetism. They recognize the power, of suggestion, but they do not
believe it to be the principal factor in the production of the hypnotic
state." Those who hold this theory today distinguish between the phenomena
produced by magnetism and those produced by physical means or simple
suggestion.
The Neurosis Theory. We have already explained the word
neurosis, but we repeat here the definition given by Dr. J. R. Cocke. "A
neurosis is any affection of the nervous centers occurring without any
material agent producing it, without inflammation or any other constant
structural change which can be detected in the nervous centers. As will be
seen from the definition, any abnormal manifestation of the nervous system
of whose cause we know practically nothing, is, for convenience, termed a
neurosis. If a man has a certain habit or trick, it is termed a neurosis
or neuropathic habit. One man of my acquaintance, who is a professor in a
college, always begins his lecture by first sneezing and then pulling at
his nose. Many forms of tremor are called neurosis. Now to say that
hypnotism is the result of a. neurosis, simply means that a person's
nervous system is susceptible to this condition, which, by M. Charcot and
his followers, is regarded as abnormal." In short, M. Charcot places
hypnotism in the same category of nervous affections in which hysteria and
finally hallucination (medically considered) are to be classed, that is to
say, as a nervous weakness, not to say a disease. According to this
theory, a person whose nervous system is perfectly healthy could not be
hypnotized. So many people can be hypnotized because nearly all the world
is more or less insane, as a certain great writer has observed.
Suggestion. This theory is based on the power of mind
over the body as we observe it in everyday life. Again let me quote from
Dr. Cooke. "If we can direct the subject's whole attention to the belief
that such an effect as before mentioned--that his arm will be paralyzed,
for instance--will take place, that effect will gradually occur. Such a
result having been once produced, the subject's will-power and power of
resistance are considerably weakened, because he is much more inclined
than at first to believe the hypnotizer's assertion. This is generally the
first step in the process of hypnosis. The method pursued at the school of
Nancy is to convince the subject that his eyes are closing by directing
his attention to that effect as strongly as possible. However, it is not
necessary that we begin with the eyes. According to M. Dessoir, any member
of the body will answer as well." The theory of Suggestion is maintained
by the medical school attached to the hospital at Nancy. The theory of
Neurosis was originally put forth as the result of experiments by Dr.
Charcot at the Salpetriere hospital in Paris, which is now the co-called
Salpetriere school--that is the medical, school connected with the
Salpetriere hospital.
There is also another theory put forth, or rather a
modification of Professor Charcot's theory, and maintained by the school
of the Charity hospital in Paris, headed by Dr. Luys, to the effect that
the physical magnet and electricity may affect persons in the hypnotic
state, and that certain drugs in sealed tubes placed upon the patient's
neck during the condition of hypnosis will produce the same effects which
those drugs would produce if taken internally, or as the nature of the
drugs would seem to call for if imbibed in a more complete fashion. This
school, however, has been considerably discredited, and Dr. Luys'
conclusions are not received by scientific students of hypnotism. It is
also stated, and the present writer has seen no effective denial, that
hypnotism may be produced by pressing with the fingers upon certain points
in the body, known as hypnogenic spots.
It will be seen that these three theories stated above
are greatly at variance with each other. The student of hypnotism will
have to form a conclusion for himself as he investigates the facts.
Possibly it will be found that the true theory is a combination of all
three of those described above. Hypnotism is certainly a complicated
phenomena, and he would be a rash man who should try to explain it in a
sentence or in a paragraph. An entire book proves a very limited space for
doing it. |
