hypnotism
Induced suggestible state
Hypnotism is the practice of inducing a trance-like state in which a person becomes highly responsive to suggestion.
A hypnotist may guide someone to recall memories, reduce pain, or change habits like smoking.
The term covers both the technique and the broader phenomenon: stage hypnotism, hypnotism for weight loss.
Whether hypnotism accesses a distinct mental state or merely heightened suggestibility remains debated.
Semiconscious, unresponsive condition
- inductionFormal admission process
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
- deepeningBecoming more profound
- relaxationState of being unwound
entrancement · somnambulism · reverie · absorption · susceptibility · autosuggestion · posthypnotic · dissociation
Capture attention completely
- entrancePoint of access
- captivateHold attention irresistibly
- spellbindCaptivate completely, immovably
- transfixImmobilize through shock or piercing
fascinate · enthrall · bewitch · enchant · rivet · grip · absorb · engross
Therapeutic use of trance
- regressionReturn to former state
- psychotherapyTreatment through guided conversation
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
- smoking cessationDiscontinuing cigarette use
phobias · trauma · anxiety · pain management · weight loss · age regression · abreaction · desensitization
Innate power to attract
- charlatanismFraudulent claim to skill
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- debunkingProving claims false
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
placebo · suggestion · fraud · spiritualism · parlor trick · huckster · pseudoscience · discredited
Skill at impressive presentation
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- entertainmentAgreeable diversion of attention
spectacle · performer · act · suggestion · command · trigger · routine · mentalism
Below conscious awareness
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- suggestibilityReadiness to accept influence
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- psycheTotal mental life
cognition · dissociation · perception · awareness · mental · brainwaves · alpha state · ideomotor
trance
Semiconscious, unresponsive condition
- inductionFormal admission process
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
- deepeningBecoming more profound
relaxation · entrancement · somnambulism · reverie · absorption · susceptibility · autosuggestion · posthypnotic · dissociation · catalepsy
mesmerize
Capture attention completely
transfix · fascinate · enthrall · bewitch · enchant · rivet · grip · absorb · engross · beguile
hypnotherapy
Therapeutic use of trance
- regressionReturn to former state
- psychotherapyTreatment through guided conversation
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
smoking cessation · phobias · trauma · anxiety · pain management · weight loss · age regression · abreaction · desensitization · visualization
animal magnetism
Innate power to attract
- charlatanismFraudulent claim to skill
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- debunkingProving claims false
skepticism · placebo · suggestion · fraud · spiritualism · parlor trick · huckster · pseudoscience · discredited · exposed
showmanship
Skill at impressive presentation
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
entertainment · spectacle · performer · act · suggestion · command · trigger · routine · mentalism · compliance
subconscious
Below conscious awareness
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- suggestibilityReadiness to accept influence
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
psyche · cognition · dissociation · perception · awareness · mental · brainwaves · alpha state · ideomotor · automatism
- performance skillsmagic, illusions, sleight of hand, juggling, mime
- Hypnotismmesmerism, mesmerist, trance, deep trance, light trance
- captivationfascination, captivation, enthrallment, bewitchment, entrancement
- Metaphysical Spiritualityspiritualism, theosophy, Christian Science, mediumship, channeling
- Vampiresvampire, vampires, vampirism, fangs, coffin
- variety actsacrobat, juggling, aerialist, magic, clown
hypnotismwakefulness
State of being conscious
alertness · arousal · consciousness · vigilance · lucidity
hypnotismfree will
Autonomous choice capacity
self-determination · autonomy · skepticism · independent thought · self-control
hypnotismrationalism
Reason as knowledge source
critical thinking · logical reasoning · empiricism · scientific method · skeptical inquiry
- hypnotic tranceInduced suggestible consciousness
- hypnotic suggestionCommand given under trance
- stage hypnotistEntertainer suggesting acts onstage
- hypnotic state
- post-hypnotic suggestionCommand implanted during trance
- hypnotic regressionAccessing memories through trance
hypnotic, hypnotize, hypnotized, hypnotist, hypnotizing, hypnotizes, hypnotically, hypnotizer, hypnotists