Techniques of Speed Hypnosis by Harry Arons

Summary of Techniques of Speed Hypnosis by Harry Arons

Document Purpose & Structure

The book focuses on speedy and instantaneous hypnosis techniques, aiming to demystify rapid induction and provide practical methods for both stage and clinical settings. It is structured into an introduction, two main parts, addenda, and case studies, with extensive photographic illustrations to enhance understanding.

Introduction

Harry Arons clarifies two core goals:

1. To challenge skepticism about rapid hypnosis by explaining that hypnosis is a quasi-normal state (not abnormal) and can be induced “like switching on a light” under optimal conditions.
2. To present clear, concise speed hypnosis techniques, emphasizing visual learning (“show with pictures, tell with few words”). The book is not a basic hypnosis course but focuses on advanced rapid methods, with supplementary standard techniques included in the addenda for beginners.

Part One: Underlying Principles of Speed Hypnosis

This section outlines the psychological and interpersonal conditions enabling rapid induction:

• Hypnosis as an Interpersonal Relationship: Hypnosis relies on delicate interplay between hypnotist and subject, with success dependent on minimizing antagonisms and leveraging affinities.
• Expectation: Subjects must anticipate hypnosis (via fear or pleasurable anticipation). In rapid induction, expectation is built before formal induction (e.g., through prior conditioning).
• Prestige of the Operator: A hypnotist’s reputation (e.g., stage hypnotists with public acclaim) enhances suggestibility, making subjects more receptive.
• Mass Suggestibility (Mob Psychology): Group settings (e.g., stage shows) amplify suggestibility due to herd instinct; individuals mimic others’ hypnotic responses.
• Imitativeness: Humans tend to replicate others’ behaviors. Stage hypnotists exploit this by selecting highly suggestible “volunteers” first, prompting others to follow.

Part Two: Speed Hypnosis Techniques

Detailed methods for rapid induction are presented, with key examples including:

• Pre-Hypnotic & Post-Hypnotic Suggestion: Pre-hypnotic suggestions shape subjects’ expectations (e.g., “your hands will stick together”). Post-hypnotic signals (e.g., snaps, words) trigger instant trance in pre-conditioned subjects (common in stage shows).
• Hands-Clasp Method: Subjects clasp hands; the hypnotist suggests rigidity, then commands “Sleep!” while snapping fingers. Variations include Ralph Slater’s name-repetition technique.
• Author’s Favorite Method: A refined hands-clasp variation using intense eye contact, wrist squeezing, and a downward “pass” over the subject’s face to induce trance.
• Arm Levitation Methods:
  • Unique Arm Levitation: Subject points at the hypnotist; suggestions of “lightness” cause the arm to rise, triggering trance when the finger meets the hypnotist’s eyes.
  • Wolberg’s Levitation: Subject focuses on a rising hand; trance is induced when the hand touches their face.
• Swayback Method: Subject stands upright; hypnotist suggests falling backward, then commands sleep as the subject loses balance.

Addenda

Supplementary content for beginners includes:

• Standard Hypnotization Methods: The 3-Step Procedure (preparatory suggestions → “talking sleep” → direct control), use of a hypnodisk (fixation object), and verbal scripts for induction.
• Awakening Techniques: Gradual counting (1–5) with suggestions of well-being to avoid post-trance discomfort.

Case Studies

Practical applications illustrate technique efficacy:

• Dental Hypnosis: A subject uses self-hypnosis to endure painless drilling and gum cleaning, transforming from a fearful patient to a cooperative one.
• Bed-Wetting (Enuresis): A 10-year-old boy is “cured” via post-hypnotic suggestions (e.g., waking to use the bathroom), maternal cooperation (removing rubber sheets), and prestige-based confidence building.
• Indirect Hypnosis: A 20-year-old with crowd phobia undergoes trance unknowingly (via suggestions of a “cooling system” or “sewing machine sounds”), then uses tinted glasses as a hypnotic crutch to gradually overcome his fear.

Key Themes

• Speed & Practicality: Emphasis on inducing trance in seconds/minutes, suitable for stage, clinical, or emergency settings.
• Psychological Levers: Reliance on expectation, prestige, group dynamics, and imitation to lower resistance.
• Visual Learning: Photographs illustrate techniques (e.g., hand positions, eye contact), aligning with Arons’ belief that “pictures teach more than words.”

In summary, the document integrates theoretical principles, step-by-step techniques, and real-world cases to establish speed hypnosis as a viable, skill-based practice, accessible to both professionals and informed lay readers.