![]() Spiegel further says in his email to us, “Hypnotic alteration of perception changes brain activity in specific sensory regions that reflect altered perception, not just altered reaction to perception.” 7 Spiegel presents additional evidence from research regarding altered perception during hypnosis by saying: “Furthermore, large randomized clinical trials show an effect of hypnosis in pain and anxiety reduction that is significantly greater than that found with non-hypnotic psychological support.” 8 There is plenty of evidence from neuroimaging research of activation of specific brain regions, including the anterior cingulated cortex and prefrontal cortex during hypnotic trance in ways that are significantly different from nontrance states. His most recent reference is a decade old. Lilienfeld is outdated and wrong in regard to hypnosis. When we told him about the book by Lilienfeld et al and about their conclusions regarding hypnosis, Spiegel gave the following answer: You are more vulnerable and more at risk in a trance state because you are more focused in your attention and you are not as likely to think about peripheral considerations like is this a good idea to do this or what am I really doing? (emphasis in original). The common idea that you would never do anything in hypnosis that you would not ordinarily do is not in fact true. In our chapter titled “Can the Will Be Violated?” we quote Spiegel as saying: David Spiegel, distinguished professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, who is one of the many researchers we quote in our book on hypnosis. Lilienfeld’s assertions concerned us because we want to be accurate about scientific evidence that we present in our books and articles. 3 They contend that research indicates that “No trance or discrete state unique to hypnosis is at work” and that the “feeling of an altered state is merely one of the many subjective effects of suggestion.” 4 Scientific Evidence Lilienfeld et al, in their book 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology, declare that the idea that “hypnosis is a unique ‘trance’ state that differs in kind from wakefulness” is a myth. Therefore, we revisited these questions: Is hypnosis an altered state or simply an aspect of ordinary consciousness? Where does one draw the line between ordinary consciousness and occult trance states that are forbidden in Scripture? However, we recently read an article 1 and book 2 authored by Scott Lilienfeld, Professor of Psychology at Emory University, and others, in which they contend that hypnosis is not an altered state of mind, discretely different from other forms of consciousness, and that during hypnosis people remain in full control of what they are doing and saying, and, thereby, that the will cannot be violated. ![]() We give evidence in our book that hypnosis is a discrete altered state of mind, different from regular consciousness, and that, depending upon the suggestibility of the client and the depth of the trance, the will can be violated through information given during the trance. Some believe that hypnosis is perfectly harmless, especially in the hands of medical and psychological professionals. ![]() There are Christian hypnotherapists, medical doctors, and dentists who practice hypnosis on their clients. In spite of the research we present and in spite of Biblical admonitions about involvement in the occult, numerous Christians use hypnosis in various settings. We draw our information and conclusions from both the Bible and scientific research and warn Christians about its dangers. We also discuss whether or not it is a natural experience and whether or not the will can be violated. ![]() In our book Hypnosis: Medical, Scientific, or Occultic? we describe hypnosis, hypnotic induction, hypnotic memory, deep hypnosis, and the origins of hypnosis.
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