hypnosis
 

Is hypnosis real? I've only heard of hypnosis on TV so I'm pretty skeptical of it. Anyone know much about hypnosis?

Sure, I've been on both ends of hypnosis many times. I can tell you that it's a real as the subject believes it to be. You're not going to be able to flip cars over while you're hypnotized, or remember the VIN on a car that you had eight years ago; but hypnosis can still be quite interesting.

Are you interested in taking this up as a hobby, or do you just want to know if the subjects you see on TV are faking it?

the power of suggestion is pretty amazing. I'm not very open to suggestion but i've seen it work several times.

I think hypnosis only works on those that really want to be hypnotised. I've only ever seen one hypnotist, and that was at a stage show in Las Vegas. It was pretty sad, as she was openly mocked by the participants.

"as she was openly mocked by the participants"

and rightly so. of course it's purely an opinion but the entire "profession" is a sham. it is entertainment, above all, and as many have said, it only works on those that want to be hypnotized. but if it's really based on willingness, then is it really hypnosis?

There are two types of hypnosis: the 'episode of saved by the bell where zach hypnotized kelly to love him' type of hypnosis, and the hypnosis preformed by trained psychologists. Obviously you cannot swing a watch in front of someones eyes for a minute muttering, "You're getting sleepy..." and hope that they will do your bidding. It's normal, however, for people to go into trances every day. Remember driving home from work yesterday? I'll bet you don't remember the whole trip. It's like an auto-pilot for your brain, so that you aren't always completly focused. A therepist that is properly trained can watch for when a normal trance comes over a client, or can help them into a trance state through conversation. This is to be carried out for the benifit of the client.
While in a trance state unconscience thoughts come to the surface and mental and emotional healing can take place.
The power of suggestion (i.e. the vegas hypnotist making somone bark like a dog) is real, however audience members are usually cooperating on some level. It's also possible for this form of entertainment to be destructive to the participants. Usually these entertainers don't bring out their diplomas, so I would not reccomend trying this.
Bottom line: there is such thing as hypnosis.

Yup. I've been hypnotised a few times; once very deeply. It was a pretty spectacular sensation, but one I have never been able to replicate through hypnosis or by ...ahem...pharmacological means.

I love it when people ask questions I know the answer to!!!