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Encyclopedia of the Mind

Glossary Hypnosis

Key terms from hypnosis and hypnotherapy, explained clearly and concisely.

For the most important terms, you'll also find a full detail page.

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A

B

  • Binaural Beats
    Auditory tones of slightly different frequencies presented to each ear; used to influence brainwave states and support trance induction.
  • Binds
    Linguistic structures that guide the conscious mind toward a desired response by limiting its perceived options.
  • Braidism
    The approach associated with James Braid, the 19th-century Scottish surgeon who coined the word 'hypnosis' and established that it was a mental rather than magnetic phenomenon.

C

  • Calibration
    The careful observation of the subject's physical cues — breathing rate, skin color, muscle tension, eye movement — to gauge trance depth and response.
  • Catalepsy
    A state of involuntary muscular rigidity induced through suggestion, where a limb holds whatever position it is placed in.
  • Catalepsy of the Eyelids
    A specific form of catalepsy where the subject is unable to open their eyes due to hypnotic suggestion; commonly used as a convincer.
  • Catharsis
    The purging or resolution of emotional tension; the therapeutic release that often follows an abreaction.
  • Cognitive Distortion (Hypnotic)
    Changing the way a subject perceives a belief, event, or experience through directed suggestion during trance.
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Hypnotherapy (CBH)
    An integrative approach combining hypnotic techniques with principles from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
  • Compound Suggestion
    A suggestion that links two ideas together using 'and' or 'as,' using the first to facilitate the second (e.g., 'As you breathe out, you relax more deeply').
  • Confusion Technique
    An induction method that overloads the conscious mind with complex, contradictory, or non-sensical information until it 'gives up' and allows trance entry.
  • Congruence
    The state in which the hypnotist's words, vocal tone, and body language all align, reinforcing the power of the suggestion.
  • Conscious Mind
    The logical, analytical, critical part of waking awareness. It handles approximately 5–9 bits of information at once and evaluates incoming suggestions.
  • Convincer
    A hypnotic test or demonstration — such as arm catalepsy or eyelid lock — used to prove to the subject that they are genuinely hypnotized.
  • Counting Down
    A classic deepening technique in which counting from a higher number to a lower one is associated with increasing depth of trance.
  • Counting Up
    A method used during emergence to bring energy and alertness back to the body.
  • Critical Faculty (Critical Filter)
    The mental 'bouncer' that evaluates incoming suggestions and decides which are allowed to reach the subconscious. Bypassing it is the central goal of induction.
  • Cryptomnesia
    A phenomenon where a forgotten memory resurfaces but is mistaken by the person for an original, new thought or idea.

D

E

  • Ego Strengthening
    Suggestions aimed at building the subject's self-esteem, confidence, and sense of personal resilience.
  • Ego-State Therapy
    A therapeutic approach working with different psychological 'states' or sub-personalities of the ego to resolve conflict and trauma.
  • Elman Hypnosis
    The direct, rapid, and clinically focused approach developed by Dave Elman, emphasizing fast somnambulistic inductions.
  • Embedded Command
    A command concealed within a larger sentence and often marked by a subtle shift in tone or emphasis (e.g., 'People can relax deeply when they listen carefully').
  • Emergence
    The process of bringing a subject out of hypnotic trance back to full, alert, waking consciousness.
  • Ericksonian Hypnosis
    An indirect, highly tailored approach to hypnotherapy developed by Milton H. Erickson, utilizing storytelling, metaphors, and natural client experiences.Ericksonian Hypnosis explained in detail →
  • Esdaile State
    An extremely deep state of hypnosis (sometimes called the 'Hypnotic Coma') characterized by profound relaxation and natural anesthesia.
  • Eye Catalepsy Test
    A classic convincer in which the subject is given the suggestion that their eyelids are locked shut and finds they cannot open them.
  • Eye Fixation
    A classical induction technique in which the subject stares at a fixed point until eye fatigue facilitates trance entry.

F

  • Fantasy / Imagery Induction
    An induction using vivid guided mental imagery or storytelling to draw the subject into trance.
  • Fractionation
    A deepening method in which the subject is repeatedly brought out of trance and back in; each cycle tends to produce a deeper state than the last.
  • Future Pacing
    Mentally rehearsing a desired behavior or state in a specific future context while in trance, to 'hardwire' it into the subconscious.

G

  • Gestalt Hypnosis
    An integration of Gestalt therapy techniques (such as the 'empty chair' dialogue) into the hypnotic context.
  • Glove Anesthesia
    A technique in which the hand is made hypnotically numb (as if wearing an anesthetic glove); this numbness can then be transferred to another body area by touch.

H

  • Hand Clasp Test
    A suggestibility test in which the subject's hands are 'locked' together through suggestion and they are challenged to pull them apart.
  • Handshake Interrupt
    A famous rapid induction popularized by Milton Erickson, using the interruption of a handshake to create momentary confusion and induce trance.
  • Harvard Group Scale (HGSHS)
    A standardized group measure of hypnotic susceptibility developed at Harvard University.
  • Hetero-hypnosis
    Hypnosis performed by one person upon another, as opposed to self-hypnosis.
  • Hidden Observer
    A theoretical construct suggesting that a detached, observing 'part' of the mind remains aware of everything even during the deepest trance states.
  • Hypermnesia
    Enhanced memory or recall facilitated while under hypnosis.
  • Hypnagogic State
    The transitional state of consciousness occurring just before falling asleep; often compared to light trance.
  • Hypnoanalysis
    Using hypnosis to explore and identify the unconscious root cause of a psychological symptom or problem.
  • Hypnoidal
    A very light state of hypnosis, comparable to daydreaming; the threshold between normal waking and actual trance.
  • Hypnopompic State
    The transitional state occurring just before fully waking up; similarly dream-like and trance-adjacent.
  • Hypnosis
    A state of focused attention characterized by heightened activity of the unconscious mind. A direct synonym for the state of hypnosis is hypnotic trance.Hypnosis explained in detail →
  • Hypnotherapy
    A solution-oriented clinical practice that bridges the language of the conscious mind (words, ideas) with the language of the unconscious (images, feelings).Hypnotherapy explained in detail →
  • Hypnotic Contract
    The explicit or implicit agreement between hypnotist and subject regarding the goals, scope, and boundaries of the hypnotic work.
  • Hypnotic Depth Scale
    Any standardized or informal measure used to assess how deeply hypnotized a subject is at a given moment.
  • Hypnotic Seal
    A controversial suggestion given during trance intended to prevent others from hypnotizing the subject outside the established therapeutic relationship.
  • Hypnotist
    The person facilitating the hypnotic state.
  • Hypnotizability
    A person's overall responsiveness to hypnosis, encompassing both susceptibility and suggestibility.

I

  • Ideomotor Response (IMR)
    Involuntary, unconscious muscular movements (e.g., a finger twitch or lift) used to allow the subconscious to communicate with the hypnotist.
  • Ideomotor Signaling
    A communication system in which the subconscious responds to yes/no questions through pre-agreed involuntary movements, typically finger lifts.
  • Ideoretinal Light
    The visual 'static,' patterns, or phosphene-like imagery perceived when the eyes are closed; often noticed during trance.
  • Ideosensory Response
    A sensation — warmth, cold, tingling, heaviness — produced purely through suggestion, without any physical stimulus.
  • In-Sight
    A spontaneous realization or moment of understanding that arises during trance.
  • Incongruence
    A mismatch between conscious and unconscious communication, or between the hypnotist's words and non-verbal signals; reduces effectiveness.
  • Indirect Suggestion
    A subtle suggestion phrased as a possibility, question, or implication rather than a command (e.g., 'I wonder if you might notice a sense of calm').
  • Induction
    The process or technique used to guide a subject from normal waking consciousness into a hypnotic trance.
  • Inner Child
    The unconscious repository of an adult's childhood memories, emotional impressions, and protective behavioral patterns.Inner Child explained in detail →
  • Instant Induction
    An induction that produces trance almost instantaneously, often using physical surprise or sudden direction.
  • Interspersal Technique
    Embedding suggestions within a seemingly ordinary story or conversation so they bypass critical evaluation.
  • ISE (Initial Sensitizing Event)
    The first occurrence of a sensitizing experience that established the roots of a later problem.

L

  • Law of Concentrated Attention
    The principle that when attention is focused on an idea repeatedly, that idea tends to manifest itself in the body or behavior.
  • Law of Dominant Effect
    The principle that a stronger emotion or idea will always override a weaker one in the subconscious mind.
  • Law of Reverse Effect
    The principle that the harder one consciously tries to perform a function, the less likely they are to succeed (e.g., trying to force sleep).
  • Leading
    Transitioning from pacing (describing reality) to suggesting a change, guiding the subject's experience in the desired direction.
  • LeCron-Bordeaux Scale
    One of the earlier standardized scales for measuring hypnotic depth, ranging from insusceptible through to plenary trance.
  • Lemon Test
    A classic ideosensory test where imagining biting a lemon causes salivation, demonstrating the mind-body connection.
  • Lethargy
    A light hypnotic state characterized by a sense of physical heaviness and mild relaxation.
  • Levitation Induction
    An induction in which the suggestion that an arm will rise spontaneously is used to facilitate trance entry.
  • Lucid Dreaming
    A sleep state in which the dreamer is aware they are dreaming; related to hypnosis in its use of directed imagery and conscious awareness within an altered state.

M

  • Mesmerism
    The 18th-century system developed by Franz Mesmer based on the theory of 'animal magnetism'; the historical precursor to modern hypnosis.
  • Metaphor (Therapeutic)
    A story, analogy, or indirect scenario used to communicate with the subconscious mind while bypassing conscious resistance.
  • Misdirection
    Drawing the subject's conscious attention away from the hypnotic 'work' being done, allowing the subconscious to respond more freely.
  • Monotropism
    The narrowing of attention to a single object or thought to the exclusion of everything else; a key mechanism in trance induction.

N

  • Naturalistic Trance
    A trance that arises spontaneously in everyday life without formal induction (e.g., highway hypnosis, daydreaming, being absorbed in a film).
  • Negative Hallucination
    Failing to perceive something that is actually present due to hypnotic suggestion (e.g., not seeing a clearly visible object).
  • Nested Loops
    A storytelling technique where multiple stories are begun and left unresolved before being closed in reverse order; used to bypass the critical faculty.
  • NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)
    A field of communication and behavioral change closely related to hypnosis, developed in part by modeling Milton Erickson's language patterns.
  • Nocebo Effect
    The 'evil twin' of the placebo effect; a negative suggestion or expectation that produces real, adverse physical or psychological effects.
  • Nominalization
    The linguistic act of turning a process into a noun (e.g., 'relaxation' instead of 'relaxing'), which creates powerful, abstract concepts the subconscious absorbs easily.

P

  • Pacing
    Describing the subject's current, verifiable reality in the present tense to build agreement and trust before leading.
  • Parts Therapy
    A therapeutic approach working with different internal 'parts' or subpersonalities (e.g., a part that wants change vs. a part resisting it) to resolve inner conflict.
  • Past Life Regression
    A controversial technique in which subjects are guided to explore what appear to be memories from previous incarnations; its literal validity is debated.
  • Pattern Interrupt
    The deliberate disruption of an expected social script (e.g., a handshake) to create a brief moment of mental confusion that opens a window for suggestion.
  • Permissive Language
    Suggestion phrasing using words like 'might,' 'could,' or 'may' to soften commands and reduce resistance.
  • Placebo Effect
    Genuine improvement in a condition resulting from the belief in or expectation of a treatment's effectiveness.
  • Positive Hallucination
    Perceiving something — sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch — that is not actually present, as a result of hypnotic suggestion.
  • Post-hypnotic Re-induction Trigger
    A previously established word, gesture, or cue that rapidly returns a subject to trance in subsequent sessions.
  • Post-hypnotic Suggestion (PHS)
    A suggestion delivered during trance that is intended to influence the subject's thoughts, feelings, or behavior after they have emerged.
  • Post-hypnotic Trigger
    A specific cue — word, sound, touch, or image — programmed during trance to activate a post-hypnotic suggestion later.
  • Pre-talk
    The conversation held before a formal induction to clear up myths, address fears, explain the process, and build rapport.
  • Presupposition
    A linguistic device that assumes a desired outcome is already true within the structure of a sentence (e.g., 'When you enter trance, you will notice...').
  • Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
    A gradual induction method guiding the subject to relax the body part by part, from head to toe or vice versa.
  • Proxy Suggestion
    A suggestion that operates through an indirect medium or another person rather than being delivered directly to the subject.
  • Pseudo-Orientation in Time
    A technique similar to age progression, in which the subject acts as though a desired future event has already occurred.

R

  • Rapid Induction
    An induction designed to achieve trance in seconds or minutes rather than through extended relaxation.
  • Rapport
    The relationship of trust, harmony, and cooperation between hypnotist and subject. Without it, effective hypnosis is impossible.
  • Ratification
    Pointing out observable physical signs of trance to the subject as proof that hypnosis is occurring, thereby deepening their belief and compliance.
  • Re-induction
    Returning a subject to trance after they have emerged, often faster than the initial induction.
  • Reframing
    Changing the meaning or context of an experience, memory, or belief so the subject perceives it differently.
  • Revivification
    A deep form of age regression in which the subject fully re-experiences a past memory as if it is happening in the present moment.

S

  • Safety Trigger
    A word or cue established in advance to allow the subject to quickly and safely enter or exit trance at will.
  • Script
    A pre-written set of suggestions, imagery, or storytelling used to guide a hypnotic session toward a specific goal.
  • Secondary Gain
    The hidden psychological benefit a person receives from maintaining a symptom or problem (e.g., a habit providing stress relief or social attention).
  • Self-Hypnosis
    The independent practice of guiding yourself into a light trance state to give space, attention, and positive focus to your unconscious mind.Self-Hypnosis explained in detail →
  • Sensory Distortion
    The alteration of how the brain interprets sensory input — including smell, taste, sound, or touch — through suggestion.
  • Shock Induction
    A type of rapid induction using a physical startle or sudden, unexpected movement to bypass the critical faculty.
  • Sichort State (Ultra-Height)
    A reported state beyond the Esdaile State; associated with accelerated healing and deep-level reprogramming.
  • Somatic Bridge
    A regression technique using a current physical sensation as a bridge to trace back to an earlier memory where that sensation originated.
  • Somnambulism
    The deepest achievable level of hypnotic trance, where the subject can function, respond to complex suggestions, and experience profound phenomena such as positive/negative hallucinations and spontaneous amnesia.
  • SSE (Subsequent Sensitizing Event)
    Later events that reinforced or compounded the original Initial Sensitizing Event.
  • Stacking Anchors
    Linking multiple positive emotional states to a single physical trigger to create an intensified resource anchor.
  • Stage Hypnosis
    Hypnosis performed for entertainment purposes before an audience, typically using rapid inductions and theatrical suggestions for comedic effect.
  • Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS)
    A widely used standardized assessment of hypnotic responsiveness developed at Stanford University.
  • State-Dependent Memory
    The phenomenon where memories encoded during a particular mental state are most readily recalled when in that same state.
  • Subconscious / Unconscious Mind
    The vast, largely inaccessible part of the mind that manages habits, emotions, beliefs, memories, and autonomic functions such as breathing and blinking.
  • Subject
    The person being hypnotized.
  • Suggestibility
    The degree to which a person is open to receiving and acting upon suggestions.
  • Suggestion
    A tailored verbal or mental input accepted by the unconscious mind and translated into feelings, sensations, or behavioral changes.Suggestion explained in detail →
  • Susceptibility
    The inherent capacity of an individual to enter a hypnotic state; distinct from suggestibility but closely related.
  • Svengali
    A popular culture archetype for a sinister, controlling hypnotist; largely a myth that skilled practitioners actively work to dispel.
  • Synesthesia
    A crossover of sensory modalities (e.g., 'hearing' a color or 'seeing' a sound); used in hypnosis to deepen sensory experience.

T

  • The Meta Model
    The linguistic opposite of the Milton Model; a set of language patterns used to challenge and clarify vague or limiting beliefs.
  • The Milton Model
    A set of deliberately vague, permissive language patterns derived from Milton Erickson's work, designed to bypass conscious resistance and speak to the subconscious.
  • Theta State
    A brainwave state of 4–8 Hz associated with deep trance, creativity, and vivid imagery.
  • Time Distortion
    A hypnotic phenomenon in which the subject's subjective experience of time is significantly sped up or slowed down relative to actual clock time.
  • Trance
    A natural state of focused inward attention and relaxation, closely resembling the twilight state between waking and sleeping.Trance explained in detail →
  • Transderivational Search
    The unconscious process by which the brain scans its stored experiences to assign meaning to a vague suggestion or metaphor.
  • Truism
    An undeniably true statement used to build agreement and momentum (e.g., 'You are breathing right now').

U

  • Utilization
    The Ericksonian principle of working with — rather than against — whatever the subject presents (resistance, coughing, movement) to deepen or facilitate trance.

V

  • VAK (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic)
    The three primary sensory modalities through which people process experience; identifying a subject's preferred modality informs how suggestions are framed.
  • Vivid Imagery
    The use of detailed, multi-sensory mental pictures to facilitate and deepen hypnotic trance.

W

  • Waking Hypnosis
    The application of hypnotic language patterns and techniques on a person who is in a fully alert waking state, without any formal induction.
  • Word Salad
    A confusion induction technique using a stream of non-sequential, illogical language to overwhelm and disable the critical faculty.

Y

  • Yawn Induction
    Using the socially contagious nature of yawning to initiate a relaxation and trance process.
  • Yes-Set
    A series of truisms or obvious statements designed to get the subject agreeing repeatedly, making a subsequent suggestion easier to accept.

Z

  • Z-Process
    A niche method used for deep-level subconscious reprogramming within the hypnotic context.
  • Zero State
    A term used to describe a 'blank slate' or void state sometimes reported in very deep trance, prior to suggestion work.

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