Isn't hypnosis a bit of a Morton's Fork/Catch-22?

[matthewj]

For hypnosis to work, the subject has to desire the change present in the file or script. If the subject does not desire the change or is indifferent to it, the change will not take effect. However, if the subject does desire the change, they can simply make the change themselves without the help of hypnosis. In that case, hypnosis is either needless or useless. One could state that it is a complete waste of time. Also, it seems to imply that the subject is too mentally weak to effect personal change by themselves.

[zapnosis]

Nice try, but you're assuming way too much there. There is a lot more to human behaviour than just will.

Z

[matthewj]

Please explain.

[zapnosis]

OK, there is the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. The conscious mind occupies itself with what you are thinking about at the time. It analyses information, works things out, mulls over, ponders and does all forms of "thinking." We have a degree of control over the conscious mind, for the purposes of this discussion, but it is prone to suggestion and can be distracted.

The subconscious mind, as far as I know, does not think at all. It stores information that defines you as an individual, old memories and traces of memories. Things you have felt and what you associate with those feelings. It is the subconscious that means that you can focus all your attention on a task or experience, but still "be you." It is slow to respond to new information and we have very little, if any, control over it.

How the subconscious affects the conscious... well, I guess that's pretty complicated. I haven't studied this stuff formally so I only have my own experiences to go on, but I do have experience. The way I would explain what I have observed is to say that the subconscious provides the outline of thoughts for the conscious mind. It sets the mood. It chooses the wallpaper. The conscious mind then fills in the details with whatever you are thinking about at the time.

This would explain why some people are always cheerful, even when they aren't having a great day or whatever. And some people are always gloomy, even if they have every reason to be happy. People can become obsessed, a basic concept or way of thinking takes over the subconscious. I know a guy who used to be in the army and every other sentence he says includes some reference to the army or the war he fought in, even if it has nothing to do with what we're talking about. That guy's subconscious is still in the army.

If you're happy with your subconscious, then you may not notice this drip feed into your day to day thoughts... and that's probably a good thing. But I reckon most people collect some unwanted baggage as they go through life. For that reason, since you asked the question, I suspect that you are a young person... 20 years old maybe? Anyway, not my business.

The point is, hypnosis gives us some access to, and so some control of, the subconscious mind. That's it.

Z

[Alien4420]

[matthewj]

[Alien4420]

[xavious]

[Rotoscope]

[Ladon]

[Rotoscope]

[Alien4420]