CMH Group Hypnosis & Stage Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a stage hypnosis show, what is the primary purpose of the 'waking hypnosis' tests performed before the formal induction?
- To tire the audience so they respond better later
- To identify highly suggestible volunteers through compliance responses (Correct answer)
- To establish rapport with the venue staff
- To calibrate the microphone levels
Correct answer: To identify highly suggestible volunteers through compliance responses
Waking hypnosis tests (like arm catalepsy or eye lock) reveal which audience members are highly responsive to suggestion before any formal trance induction.
Question 2: When conducting a group induction, which technique helps synchronize the trance depth of participants who entered hypnosis at different rates?
- Fractionation applied individually to slow responders
- A universal deepener delivered to the group simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Dismissing participants who did not reach the target depth quickly
- Repeating the induction from the beginning for lagging participants
Correct answer: A universal deepener delivered to the group simultaneously
A universal deepener given to the whole group brings lighter-trance participants deeper while reinforcing depth in those already deeply hypnotized.
Question 3: A stage hypnotist notices one volunteer is simulating hypnotic responses rather than genuinely experiencing them. The BEST course of action is to:
- Publicly call out the volunteer to expose the simulation
- Give the volunteer suggestions that only work on genuine responders and quietly redirect them off stage (Correct answer)
- Punish the volunteer with an embarrassing suggestion
- Stop the show and restart with a new group
Correct answer: Give the volunteer suggestions that only work on genuine responders and quietly redirect them off stage
Skilled stage hypnotists give compliance-dependent suggestions that fakers cannot perform convincingly, then politely redirect non-responders off stage to maintain show quality.
Question 4: What does the term 'somnambulistic state' refer to in the context of stage hypnosis?
- A light relaxation state used for group inductions
- A deep hypnotic state where subjects can move, talk, and perform while fully hypnotized (Correct answer)
- A post-hypnotic amnesia condition
- The hypnagogic state just before natural sleep
Correct answer: A deep hypnotic state where subjects can move, talk, and perform while fully hypnotized
Somnambulism in hypnosis refers to a deep trance state where subjects remain responsive and ambulatory, making it ideal for stage performances.
Question 5: Which of the following post-hypnotic suggestions is considered UNETHICAL for use in a stage show?
- Laughing whenever they hear a specific word
- Feeling refreshed and energized upon awakening
- Experiencing involuntary physical symptoms after the show without a removal suggestion (Correct answer)
- Forgetting the number seven
Correct answer: Experiencing involuntary physical symptoms after the show without a removal suggestion
Leaving post-hypnotic suggestions active after the show that cause ongoing involuntary symptoms is unethical because participants did not consent to lasting effects.
Question 6: In group hypnosis, what is the 'compounding effect' and why is it valuable?
- The tendency for one suggestion to cancel out a previous one
- The phenomenon where group members reinforce each other's responses, deepening the collective trance (Correct answer)
- A financial model for stage show pricing
- The accumulation of fatigue over multiple shows
Correct answer: The phenomenon where group members reinforce each other's responses, deepening the collective trance
The compounding effect describes how observing others respond to suggestions reinforces individual responses, making group settings naturally more powerful than one-on-one sessions.
Question 7: When awakening a large group from hypnosis simultaneously, the hypnotist should:
- Use a sudden loud noise to startle them awake immediately
- Give clear, gradual emergence suggestions and verify each participant is fully alert before concluding (Correct answer)
- Allow participants to wake up on their own schedule without guidance
- Awaken participants individually to save time
Correct answer: Give clear, gradual emergence suggestions and verify each participant is fully alert before concluding
A gradual, structured emergence with verification ensures all group members return to full alertness safely, preventing disorientation or incomplete emergence.
CMH Group Hypnosis & Stage Techniques 2
In a stage hypnosis show, what is the primary purpose of the 'waking hypnosis' tests performed before the formal induction?