Hypnotism: Its History, Practice and Theory |
||
|
question of suggestion. In particular, M. Stefanowska thinks she has clearly established both the lethargic and cataleptic stages. But even supposing we hold the opinion that Charcot's three stages were solely produced by artificial means, there still remains the question whether in hypnosis the muscles are responsive to a physical (not suggested) stimulus, which would produce no effect in the non-hypnotic state. Heidenhain stated the. same thing much earlier; he believed that a gentle stimulation causes the underlying muscles to contract, and that the contracture produced spreads in proportion to the strength of the stimulation. In this manner Heidenhain considers the rigidity which is seen in hypnosis, to he a reflex. Like Born and others, Heidenhain believed he - had discovered new reflexes in the course of his experiments. Without wishing to maintain that specific physical reflexes do not occur during hypnosis, I certainly think that no definite proof of their existence has been brought forward. For instance, Lehmann reports that Dr. Hiitten, who has submitted more than 6000 persons to hypnotic treatment, has never observed anything comparable to hyper-excitability, unless he had suggested that phenomenon. Nowadays, when we know that these phenomena can all be brought about by suggestion, the latter must first of all be excluded. The best way of accomplishing this end is to establish a very strict supervision of the first experiment performed on a subject; for it cannot be avoided, that when the same experiments are repeated many times certain intimations—some remark or motion made by the experimenter—should be given, from which the subject draws conclusions as to what he is expected to do. We have to take into account the quick perception which a hypnotic possesses and his desire to carry out every suggestion made by the experimenter. Certainly, Charcot's pupil, Richer, maintained that in their experiments, which were varied a thousandfold, the results were always identical, and that imitation was excluded. But we may conclude from a statement of Vigouroux, who excludes the deltoid muscle from the law of neuro-muscular activity, that the thing is not so plain. Gilles de la Tourette also states that the results were only attained after long previous experiment. But, how-. ever great may have been the tendency occasioned by the rise of the Nancy school to deny the occurrence of the physical |
|
|
More cool stuff from www.hypnosisschool.org: © 2012 |
||