Does the hypnotist wield any real “power”?
No! Actually, imagination can probably explain much of the phenomena produced by hypnosis. For the mind, through its imagination and stimulated by the instincts of the subject, is capable of great things. The phenomenon of hypnosis can be the “agent”. Expected results, prestige of – and complete confidence in – the hypnotist can act to produce extraordinary (and often contradictory) results. Emotions, such as joy or sorrow, love and hate, fear and courage, etc., all may be influenced by causes either real-or imagined. Imagination can, under certain circumstances, inordinately magnify sensations. For example, at night, objects will assume mysterious shapes and sounds; imagination becomes active and hallucinations ensure; fear, terror … and a person remains powerless. Imagination can work just as well for a person’s benefit, for-just as sickness can be brought on by imagination, so can “cures”. Hypnotism, per se, plays a similar role. Imagination and suggestion can be the hypnotic “agent
