Street Hypnosis: A Dive into the Mysteries of Consciousness and Reality
Street hypnosis has a unique quality: it makes it possible, in just a few moments, to immerse oneself in the imaginary, in a waking dream, all while staying awake. Fascinating for those who experience it, this practice relies on techniques that allow individuals to explore and stretch their mental boundaries. But how does it work? Beyond the "spectacle," hypnosis is rooted in well-understood neurological and psychological phenomena and the natural malleability of the human mind. Let’s explore how and why street hypnosis makes such experiences accessible to almost anyone.
Why It Works: Subjective Immersion, Neuroscience, and Psychological Biases
Pattern Interrupt and Simple Suggestions
From a subjective perspective, street hypnosis grabs attention by creating what’s called a pattern interrupt: a sudden disruption of automatic mental routines. The human brain often operates in autopilot mode to conserve energy, relying on expectations and habits. When a hypnotist introduces an unexpected gesture or puzzling phrase, it creates a moment of confusion. In this state, the mind seeks to restore coherence and becomes more receptive to simple, positive suggestions. This is why commands like "Sleep" or "Relax" work so well—they are perceived as the most intuitive exit from the tension of confusion.
Neuroscientific Perspective: A Malleable Brain Seeking Comfort
During moments of confusion, brain regions like the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activate to process this novel situation. The cingulate cortex, in particular, detects and corrects errors, making the brain more attentive to external suggestions. Simultaneously, salience and attention networks are engaged to reestablish mental order, facilitating the integration of new instructions or information. Hypnosis showcases the brain’s natural malleability, demonstrating its capacity to enter deep focus and trance states almost instantly when this is perceived as a solution.
The Role of Cognitive Biases: Trust and Conformity
Psychologically, several cognitive biases enhance receptivity to street hypnosis. The authority bias leads individuals to follow the hypnotist’s instructions, as they are perceived as competent and charismatic. The familiarity bias makes people more inclined to enter a trance because they’ve often seen similar performances in videos. Additionally, the foot-in-the-door technique, where the hypnotist starts with small requests (e.g., “Close your eyes”), makes it easier for participants to accept larger suggestions later. Together, these biases create a climate of trust, curiosity, and openness that optimizes the hypnotic experience.
Hypnotic Phenomena: Amnesia, Dissociation, and Anesthesia
Under hypnosis, people can experience a wide range of sensory and mental phenomena that seem to defy logic. Here are some examples:
Amnesia: A person may temporarily forget their name, age, or a memory. This is useful in psychotherapy for revisiting past experiences without emotional distress.
Anesthesia: The brain can reduce or eliminate the perception of pain. Hospitals like CHUV and HUG in Switzerland use this technique in obstetrics to ease labor pains, helping patients approach childbirth with greater serenity.
Dissociation: Hypnotized individuals may feel as though their body and mind are separate or their sense of self is altered, enabling trauma work without associated stress.
Catalepsy and Immobility: Some can maintain unusual positions without effort under hypnosis.
Illusions and Sensory Distortions: Hypnosis can evoke sensations like heaviness or lightness, providing almost mystical experiences of floating or shifting perspectives.
These phenomena highlight the power of the mind to transform perception and are used to manage pain, stress, and trauma effectively.
Hypnosis: A Tool for Discovery and Promising Research
Research into hypnosis and altered states of consciousness continues to advance, opening fascinating opportunities to understand the limits and potential of the human mind. Hypnosis reminds us that our perception of reality is malleable, shaped by attention and suggestion. By exploring these capabilities, we can not only achieve self-mastery but also reevaluate what it means to be "conscious."
Street hypnosis demonstrates how flexible and open our minds truly are, inviting us to rethink our perceptions and delve into the unknown realms of our consciousness.
Sources:
Pattern Interrupt and Simple Suggestions
Beevers, C. G., et al. (2011). Cognitive Control and Ruminative Responses to Emotional Stimuli. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 42(1), 12–22.
Egner, T., & Raz, A. (2007). Cognitive Control Processes and Hypnosis. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(4), 170–178.
Neuroscientific Perspective
Menon, V., & Uddin, L. Q. (2010). Saliency, Switching, Attention, and Control: A Network Model of Insula Function. Brain Structure and Function, 214(5-6), 655-667.
McGeown, W. J., et al. (2009). Hypnotic Induction Decreases Anterior Default Mode Network Activity. Consciousness and Cognition, 18(4), 848-855.
Cognitive Biases
Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View. Harper & Row.
Burger, J. M. (1999). The Foot-in-the-Door Compliance Procedure: A Multiple-Process Analysis and Review. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 3(4), 303-325.
Hypnotizability and Responses
Hilgard, E. R. (1965). Hypnotic Susceptibility. Harcourt, Brace & World.
Oakley, D. A., & Halligan, P. W. (2013). Hypnotic Suggestion: Opportunities for Cognitive Neuroscience. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(8), 565-576.
Hypnotic Phenomena
Rainville, P., et al. (1997). Pain Affect Encoded in Human Anterior Cingulate but Not Somatosensory Cortex. Science, 277(5328), 968-971.
Facco, E., & Casiglia, E. (2012). An Introduction to Hypnosis in Anesthesia: Historical and Clinical Considerations. Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, 2(3), 170-180.
These studies reinforce that street hypnosis and hypnosis, in general, are grounded in well-documented psychological and neurological principles, revealing the fascinating adaptability of the human mind.
The author
⫸Mourad - Ericksonian hypnosis practitioner, trainer and founder of @morpheose
⫸ What I offer
1:1 sessions, in Geneva (17 rue Charles-Giron) and Online
trainings in hypnosis
workshops and introspection retreats, for individuals and corporations
⫸ former physicist and political scientist, former BCG consultant, sportsman and living being fascinated by consciousness.