CMH CMH History & Theory of Hypnosis 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who is considered the 'father of modern hypnosis' and coined the term 'hypnosis' in the 19th century?
- James Braid (Correct answer)
- Franz Anton Mesmer
- Sigmund Freud
- Milton Erickson
Correct answer: James Braid
James Braid, a Scottish surgeon, coined the term 'hypnosis' (from the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos) in the 1840s after studying mesmerism.
Question 2: Franz Anton Mesmer's theory attributed hypnotic phenomena to an invisible natural force he called:
- Animal magnetism (Correct answer)
- Nervous fluid
- Psychic energy
- Somnambulism
Correct answer: Animal magnetism
Mesmer believed 'animal magnetism' was a universal fluid he could manipulate to heal patients, forming the historical predecessor to hypnosis.
Question 3: The Nancy School of hypnosis, led by Hippolyte Bernheim, emphasized that hypnotic phenomena were primarily due to:
- Suggestion (Correct answer)
- Physical magnetism
- Sleep states
- Neurological disease
Correct answer: Suggestion
Bernheim argued that hypnosis worked through the power of suggestion rather than any physical force, establishing suggestion as a core hypnotic mechanism.
Question 4: Which state theory of hypnosis proposes that hypnosis induces a genuine altered state of consciousness distinct from normal waking?
- State theory (Correct answer)
- Social-cognitive theory
- Dissociation theory
- Role theory
Correct answer: State theory
State theory holds that hypnosis produces a qualitatively different altered state of consciousness, as opposed to non-state theories that attribute effects to social influence.
Question 5: Milton Erickson's approach to hypnosis is best characterized by its use of:
- Indirect suggestions and metaphors (Correct answer)
- Authoritarian commands
- Aversive conditioning
- Fixed-gaze techniques only
Correct answer: Indirect suggestions and metaphors
Erickson revolutionized hypnotherapy by using indirect language, storytelling, and metaphors to bypass resistance and communicate with the unconscious mind.
Question 6: Dave Elman's rapid induction approach, widely used in modern hypnotherapy, was originally developed for use with:
- Medical and dental patients (Correct answer)
- Stage performances
- Children only
- Criminal investigations
Correct answer: Medical and dental patients
Dave Elman developed his famous rapid induction techniques specifically to help physicians and dentists place patients in hypnosis quickly for medical and dental procedures.
CMH CMH History & Theory of Hypnosis 1
Who is considered the 'father of modern hypnosis' and coined the term 'hypnosis' in the 19th century?