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Altered States: Crash Course Psychology #10

CrashCourse・10 minutes read

Hypnosis is a practice dating back centuries, popularized in the 18th century by Franz Mesmer, where suggestion plays a crucial role in its healing effects. Different theories exist on how hypnosis works, with some focusing on social influence and others on dissociation, with only 20% of people being highly hypnotizable.

Insights

  • Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness where individuals are fully aware but not in a typical waking state, with only around 20% of people highly susceptible to it.
  • Psychoactive drugs, including depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens, alter mood and perception by affecting neurotransmitter functions and can induce hallucinations even without drug use.

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Recent questions

  • What is hypnosis?

    Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness where individuals are fully conscious but not in a normal waking state. It has been around for centuries and was popularized in the 18th century by Franz Mesmer.

  • How does hypnosis work?

    Hypnosis works by suggestion rather than aligning internal magnetic forces as claimed by Mesmer. It is considered a social influence phenomenon or a state of dissociation, with only about 20% of people highly hypnotizable.

  • What are the benefits of hypnosis?

    Hypnosis has been used effectively in treating stress, anxiety, weight loss, and chronic pain. It does not lead to a loss of control over behavior and can be a helpful tool in addressing various psychological and physical issues.

  • What are psychoactive drugs?

    Psychoactive drugs alter mood and perception by mimicking neurotransmitter functions and tapping into psychological expectations. They can be categorized as depressants, stimulants, or hallucinogens, each affecting the body and mind differently.

  • How do depressants and stimulants differ?

    Depressants like alcohol, tranquilizers, and opiates slow body functions and suppress neural activity, while stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and amphetamines excite neural activity, increasing energy and changing mood. Both types of drugs have distinct effects on the body and brain.

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Summary

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"Hypnosis: Healing Power of Suggestion"

  • Hypnosis is a real practice that has been around for centuries, with the Western version popularized in the 18th century by Franz Mesmer.
  • Mesmer claimed to align patients' "internal magnetic forces" through hypnosis, but the healing power actually came from suggestion.
  • Hypnosis is considered an altered state of consciousness where individuals are fully conscious but not in a normal waking state.
  • Only about 20% of people are highly hypnotizable, making them more open to suggestion.
  • Hypnosis has been used effectively in treating stress, anxiety, weight loss, and chronic pain, but it does not lead to loss of control over behavior.
  • Different theories exist on how hypnosis works, with some suggesting it's a social influence phenomenon and others focusing on dissociation.
  • Psychoactive drugs alter mood and perception by mimicking neurotransmitter functions and tapping into psychological expectations.
  • Depressants like alcohol, tranquilizers, and opiates slow body functions and suppress neural activity.
  • Stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, and amphetamines excite neural activity, increasing energy and changing mood.
  • Hallucinogens distort perceptions and evoke sensory images, leading to hallucinations, which can also occur without drug use due to various factors.
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