Can Hypnosis Permanently Change Your Brain?

What exactly is hypnosis? Some people think it's just a fun trick for magic shows, but can it actually make you do things against your will? Could it have the power to change our brains for the better? Learn about the hypnotizing truth with Michael Aranda in a new episode of SciShow!
Learn more about amnesia: • How Do Concussions Cau...
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Sources:
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libraries.mit.edu/collections/...
www.nytimes.com/2005/11/22/sci...
www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
www.scientificamerican.com/ar...
umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...
ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~kih...
www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...
www.pnas.org/content/102/28/99...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/...
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www.asch.net/public/generalinf...
www.papelesdelpsicologo.es/eng...
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Image Sources:
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[@danielmaggio5417]

I’ve been hypnotized before and it just feels like a deep state of relaxation and comfort where the only thing you focus is the hypnotists voice. You feel obligated and compelled to do the suggestions he asks. Pretty cool actually

[@Justin-wj4yc]

It's called social role enactment

[@margaretsmith7921]

Sounds spoopy

[@bee978]

I have too i honestly liked it

[@BlueSkyCountry]

Like the Imperius Curse, from Harry Potter?

[@What-en7qv]

@@margaretsmith7921 it's not scary it's sorta like a 2 hour powernap

[@shashanklaur507]

Can I hypnotize myself to make me love studying?

[@Eric_D_6]

You probably could, it would take a lot of effort though and you could just put that effort into studying instead.

[@Nipponing]

Try meditation.

[@lathyrusloon]

Eric D Idk, that sounds short term. if you could hypnotize yourself to enjoy studying, ultimately you might study more for longer because you're enjoying it. So the time wasted trying to hypnotize yourself pays off.

[@ExScottic]

Wouldn't it be amazing if you could feel as confident, enthusiastic and as motivated about studying as you do with something else in you're life that you "love" doing??.. imagine being able to take all the fun, confidence, assurance, reward etc and apply it to everything that you do, how amazing would you be? its all about visualisation and imagination! Thats self hypnosis! See a winner= be a winner!(whatever winning is to you) Ask conor mcgregor he has it sussed 👍

[@enricobianchi4499]

There are hypnosis videos that help you study. It’s more about helping focus though.

[@Petr75661]

It's a backdoor for brain debugging that the developer forgot to comment out before release.

[@farsgokkejernandreasen6863]

jednoucelovy do not watch matrix every day

[@Phil9874]

Hey hey keep quiet the scp foundation is trying to keep that on the down low

[@venkateshprasad51]

A Computer science or a nut job student spotted

[@vedgulati63]

Pornfilm

[@jintarokensei3308]

At least all the libraries are included.

[@Heowa]

"You're getting very sleepy." Well maybe that's because it's half past 12 at night and I'm watching this in bed...

[@DavidSetha]

OR

[@harisbilalovic]

"when i snap my finger you will watch this whole video" *snaps fingers* *closes video*

[@Rakesh37187]

Haris Bilalovic this 😂

[@TheBetterGame]

Watch this. I can make the sun rise tomorrow!

[@TF2Gaming101]

*opens it again to comment and watch the rest*

[@mattlm64]

Maybe that was what they intended all along.

[@firedata2729]

Reverse hypnosis.

[@joshuaosei5628]

I'm having a sciencegasm, so many of my fave science channels uploaded today

[@edgarsandoval289]

nicosmind3 Vsauce, Vsauce 2, Vsauce 3!

[@ahmednagy7571]

Joshua Osei me too in a nutshell,vsauce all three channels and now this

[@ahmednagy7571]

Joshua Osei and it is OK to be smart

[@DearValentina]

Kurzgesagt too.

[@ahmednagy7571]

Sergeant Fidelis kurzesgat is in a nutshell I was just afraid of misspelling the word

[@mezmereyes8272]

I smoked for 30 years...walked into get hypnotized...felt like I was there about 45 minutes to an hour....I had sat in that chair for nearly 4 hours...haven't smoked a cigarette since.

[@JohnDangcilGeekWere]

relevant username

[@butterfliesinmybrain]

yeah, sure...

[@martincastoe1587]

My mom did the same thing. Went to some anti smoking seminar where they were all hypnotized and she said she’s never smoked a cigarette since

[@NickinAcoustic]

Hypnosis is the yin to the EMDR yang. I went through therapy for PTSD after my military service and EMDR was the method they used. its essentially bilateral stimulation of the brain. Its definitely intriguing, but a little unsettling to go through. they can "replace" whole memories with implanted altered memories via coaching and memory repetition with slight changes to the traumatic event.

[@invisibilius1978]

explain further please

[@twiztidyournutz]

@@invisibilius1978 I too would like a further explanation.

[@KatGates100]

EMDR has been a God send for me! I also have PTSD (not related to military service) and the ability to work through my trauma in a non triggering was has been absolutely wonderful

[@Karin_Allen]

​@@twiztidyournutz My therapist used EMDR to help me process past traumas, and I was blown away by how effective - and quick! - it was. It's very difficult to explain, but I'll try. Just forgive me if it like quackery. I promise you it works. Let's see... You probably know that the two halves of the brain are responsible for different types of processing. There's some overlap; but when it comes to processing really important events, including traumatic ones, both sides of the brain need to work together. If both sides don't finish processing the event, PTSD could result. Note: I'm sure PTSD is a lot more complicated than that, but I'm no therapist. All I know about is the part that EMDR works with. I've just told you the *theory* behind EMDR. Now I'll tell you how a session works. A trained therapist guides you in remembering a painful event. As you think about it, you watch a dot on a screen moving from left to right and back or, alternately, you tap one hand and then the other. The bilateral eye or hand movements engage both sides of your brain as you reprocess the event, allowing you to work past the place where you've been "stuck." For me, EMDR didn't involve any sort of memory replacement, just a fresh, more balanced take on the events that had traumatized me. I still remember them as clearly as ever, but I'm not hung up on them any more. I've been able to move past the pain. And like I said above, I was blown away by how effective such a simple practice could be.

[@user-ef5nd3ho3n]

@@Karin_Allen i want to know if it will work for sexual abuse trauma but I've heard hypnotherapy is not good for this by some hypnotherapist on youtube.

[@kcwidman]

HAHA jokes on you. I skipped the last 3 seconds.

[@chemp231]

Kai Widman last 10 for me.

[@shutdahellup69420]

Kai Widman lmfao

[@lyesmechkal5313]

If you skipped it how come you know what it was about -_- :P

[@emixfe3533]

LOL,💀💀😂

[@IntrigueAndWhimsy]

I've experienced hypnosis first hand. It really works, and I absolutely love it when it's for positive cause.

[@aisaphilosopher1978]

Going for my last session now … thanks for this

[@killtrigger16]

Who's that pokemon? "IT'S PIKACHUU" Hypno! "FUUUCCKK"

[@VechsDavion]

There is this one trained hypnotist that taught me lots about persuasion, politics, framing, and totally changed how I view the world. Funny enough, it was the creator of the Dilbert comic. :)

[@krrish3992]

Introduce me to this guy pleaseee :)

[@jeffholland8158]

Scott adams

[@ayymen]

And he is, on the other hand, hypnotized by Trump LOL.

[@JohnDangcilGeekWere]

This has not aged well

[@briantannenbaum8110]

Why?

[@theworldwhispers]

Michael's voice is just so soothing to me. I thoroughly enjoy listening to everything he's always teaching us. :D Also, SO excited for SciShow Psychology!!!

[@JaceCavacini]

But his hand gestures are distracting...

[@caroljo420]

I like his voice, too!!!

[@instantdominator2121]

Yes, his voice is hypnotic.

[@lazuliartz9008]

For some reason, I’m obsessed with everything hypnosis. Like I just love the thought of it. I just can’t explain it. And that’s why I watched this video. I’ve been obsessed ever since I was little.

[@raniamenjour8590]

wow same here so I am learning hypnotherapy =)

[@luqwyy4633]

Why i have a feeling you gonna tie somebody and possibly force them into your hypnosis trick kinda like yakuza's mental torture

[@lazuliartz9008]

Luqz Gaming 😂😂😂😂😂 honestly though it does

[@Grace-hw9jk]

so am I oops I think it's bc I used to be really scared of it which then got me curious

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

No... this is bad this is bad...hypnosis is evil. Don’t do it

[@WezMan444]

I have a slight phobia of hypnosis and yet I always find it fascinating

[@Dinoman-mo7mt]

Similar situation though I'm not scared of it the very idea of anyone else controlling me even partially just weirds me out but it is super interesting and I love learning how it affects the mind and its limits

[@erikketelhut3722]

I have first-hand experience with hypnosis in a clinical setting as a patient. For me, the sessions were very much about "playing along". As such, I did not perceive these sessions as much help in my situation and consequently stopped having them after about three months. I did however get to experience a completely new state of bodily awareness and relaxation that I had never experienced before. After "snapping out of it", if that's what you'd like to call it, I felt almost as if I had just gotten out of bed, with all of the physical tranquility that entails. At the same time, the other ill-effects of getting out of bed were basically non existant, I wasn't drowsy, I didn't have lessened coordination for a few minutes and I didn't feel tired. I've tried recreating this state of relaxation via meditation and have only few times managed to actually emulate this. The more often and more consistently I meditate, the more often I succeed, so I would recommend you try meditation too!

[@ShadowMinder]

0:14 Jokes on you, I'm always sleepy

[@deawinter]

I’m highly hypnotizable. It’s honestly pretty great - I can use hypnosis videos to change my behavior somewhat and I’m fairly good at meditation, which feels similar. I’ve always considered writing a story with hypnosis, since so many stories get it kind of wrong.

[@mcarol3434]

Hello!! You´d you be able to share what videos you´ve used? Thank you

[@DarkAngelNikita]

​@mcarol3434 I know I'm not the one you asked, but I recommend Ultra Hypnosis and Nimja Hypnosis, though I've been leaning more toward Nimja lately. They offer a variety of experiences, including some more...interesting ones, but I stick to the more sfw experiences for relaxation.

[@jaytaffer9641]

I'm pretty sure I was hypnotized while listening to the audiobook for The Gollem and the Jini. Not exactly sure how or why, but the story and the narrator always left me in a new and refreshed state of mind when I was done listening.

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

It’s best if you don’t do it again

[@etam8099]

@@thatlemonmelon2714 why?

[@Rando64]

Just means it was a good book & narrator. Hypnosis is access to your subconscious, not just feel-goods after reading a book

[@CheeseTaterson]

Looking forward to the new channel! Psychology is certainly an interesting and complex area of discussion which warrants its own "realm."

[@user-zz6fk8bc8u]

0:44 - _"... and might cause some real changes in your brain"_ Everything we do causes real changes in out brain; even when we are doing nothing at all ^^

[@randomleagueoflegendsthres1034]

Can someone give me post-hypnotic amnesia? I got some things I want to forget.

[@PattPlays]

The internet is a big place.

[@MaxBrains]

That's basically a way to give yourself serious psychological disorders. Unless you're just talking about forgetting a movie. That's a fun trick.

[@dustypartition]

Random League of Legends (Thresh) games Smoke weed everyday. You'll forget, eventually.

[@TorquemadaTwist]

Again? I already did that for you a couple of days ago.

[@DysnomiaFilms]

But then you'll just have to learn that Trump is your president for the first time all over again.

[@ReptarsaurusRex]

Excited for SciShow Psychology!!!! My favorite subject!

[@zChipmunKx]

Literally hypnosis is meditation so meditation is self hypnosis. You’re welcome.

[@gamerattitude9314]

i tried this... meditation does not work like hypnotism... i tried to meditate to make myself do my homework more willingly and let me just tell you... its effects are ironic and reversed...

[@zChipmunKx]

FrighteningFPS hahaha kinda funny *But if you’re not joking...just like anything..meditation requires practice and patience*

[@thewriterforge]

mediation is not self hypnosis but it is similar

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

Ever since my fear of hypnosis, meditation is also something I avoid

[@lukelemke2783]

@@thatlemonmelon2714 Hypnosis and meditation are distinct and different. Meditation is all about you getting to know your own mind without trying to change anything. Hypnosis is about letting go of your mind so that you can change it. If you want to try a quick meditation, spend 10 seconds trying to feel each of your body parts. Left foot, right foot, left leg, right leg, and go all the way up. Once you've done that, you can sit with your whole body and just notice how you feel. Notice if you're tense or relaxed. Notice if you're calm or agitated. Once you feel like you've given yourself enough time, then just notice that you're breathing. Keep your attention there. If it drifts, just try and notice your breath again. do this for 5 minutes at first. That's it. Meditation done. No manipulation. Just you getting to know how your body feels.

[@Master_Therion]

My sister thought she was so hip and cool. I said to her... "Hip? No, Sis."

[@carol-lu]

nice pun

[@TorquemadaTwist]

+Master Therion Just explain to her it's all in the way she dresses. If you wanna be hip, no ties.

[@darklyt750]

Bruce Dunn Genius:D

[@Master_Therion]

Bruce Dunn Good one ^_^ She also needs professional help. "You think being crazy is hip? No therapy."

[@TorquemadaTwist]

+Master Therion On my watch, I'd have her watch a watch. She won't get over it until she's put under overtly.

[@rickeisner2922]

All i can say is from "day dreaming" to Hypnosis to meditation. Its been a great friend of mine for all of my life. And many thanks to the Lady who taught me to "mentally relax". She was a keeper.

[@dontcryzanzibar]

I am extremely excited for SciShow Psychology, and I enjoyed this video a ridiculous amount. Keep up the good work! :)

[@sixthelement5857]

For sure my favorite SciShow video. Cheers for the team!

[@seahawk124]

Wait, why is this Hypnotoad video so popu-ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD.

seahawk124 ....sublime..... nothing more be said lol

[@xxXthekevXxx]

I love Futurama :)!

[@AxiomTheory]

My leg feels funny

[@walter3934]

@@AxiomTheory I don't feel so good Wrong place? ok...

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! RUN FROM THE HYPNOTOAD!!! *runs away*

[@Loo0Lzz]

There's something metallic and auto-tuned about the audio in this video.

[@SciShow]

It is our very square, very bouncy sounding studio. We finally got our sound foam in and hung it after this video was filmed. Better sound coming soon!

[@taxavoider9889]

SciShow, as long as it's entertaining (like always) I don't care about the audio, it's nice but just not necessary

[@comicalhexical]

SciShow is it possible you might create a philosophy channel as well? Or is that too unsciency

[@Loo0Lzz]

SciShow It's amazing what a little bit of foam can do to production value :)

[@chiklitz]

@HaneshJohnson check out crash course, they have a course on philosophy. I believe by the same people that make sci show and hosted by Hank Green!

[@TheSabatuer]

Props to this channel, i love me some good science and well-researched videos, this channel has been putting out thorough videos consistently

[@robertunderwood1011]

Until now

[@heatherengelsman7821]

Wow.. great video! So much information! I was hypnotized yesterday! What a fabulous experience!

[@Monti-ko]

This is so weird. I just got done studying hypnosis and meditation for my psychology major. This video is great by the way. It simplifies what I learned a lot and visualises most of the crucial information. Also went into perception (studied that last week) and connected both topics, which is awesome. And thanks for linking that article on posthypnotic amnesia. Love finding stuff like this :)

[@sam2303]

it would be interesting to know about your research. 👍👍do you have some dedicated youtube channel??

[@sam2303]

@monti.

[@GeneEricWhiteman]

I was hypnotized at a show during my Freshman year and my personal experience feel far more into the non-state theory. I felt like I was acting but wasn't in full control of it.

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

Simple advice, don’t ever do it again

[@canipleasehaveyourname]

@@thatlemonmelon2714 BRO YOURE STILL AT IT BAHAHAHAHA

[@frozenjune83]

This explains so much! I am not subject to hypnosis at all, but that is because my ability to focus and use self-suggestion is a naturally learned talen that help me solve many pronlems, deal with pain, etc. Now I understand I have been able to "hypnotize" my own brain all this time!

[@reflections-of-me5193]

Very good information and really appreciated the quality of verbal context available , MHP....

[@jessica-ve5my]

“When I snap my fingers, you will watch this whole video.” Haha... *No.*

[@freddygonzalez356]

hi everyone ,if anyone else is searching for hypnotist weight loss try Hyper hypno blueprint (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some great things about it and my mate got amazing success with it.

[@little_rin6393]

thats illegal

[@capivara6094]

Well, this is anecdotic experience, but, as someone that was hipnosed 20min ago, I can guarantee you that this is an alternate state of conscience.

[@marsel4812]

You mean consciousness??

[@Nurr0]

Soooooooooo happy to hear SciShow Psych was selected! I'm studying psychology and I'd love the additional content but I'm not a backer (yet). Thanks!

[@Monayla]

Hi guys, i have been a sub for a year now and watched like a fourth of your vids over time and I have to say: this one is my absolut favourite. Not because of the topic, but because for the first time your presentation seemed really extensive (hopefully thats the right word to describe what I mean, english is my 2nd language...) and I love the amount of different backround researches you included. Up to this point there hasnt been a video that felt way too short and basuc to me, but I still liked your style and strictly sciency approach, so I kept coming back, hoping for more details to the "topic of the day" and/or information I did not yet know. This finally felt exactly like that. :) I know ppls attention spans for vids is assumed to be pretty short and thus short three mins like vids make sense, but I believe a channel like yours (from my understanding of your intentions channemwise) would benefit from more content per video than buzzfeed ;) I dont know... I just always felt a weird connection to the ppl behind this channel (maybe because I love all kinds of science shit and think ppl should be exposed to it more... In some diffrent way than school... Cuz school does kill your enthusiasm so often...))...and hope u will make more vids like this one. Thank you sooooo much for all your hard work :-)

[@Productions_Wolf]

I agreed with everything you just said

[@hadipawar2539]

"Hypnosis can make you forget things" Me planning on forgetting i ever played the Witcher 3 wild hunt just to have that experience again.

[@c1gomez19]

So it's basically just will power enhanced through relaxation. And it can't do impossible things nor be done without the concious permission of the hypnotized subject.

[@weekist83]

It is pleasant and effective from personal experience. :) No matter the exact explanation. It is a tool for healing for certain people and illnesses and should be treated as such. It did with me in hours what I´ve never been able to do in years

[@sadrien]

If you believe you can change your state of consciousness then you can, because your brain is a system built to edit itself and hypnosis is just allowing someone to actively guide that process.

[@y2ksw1]

Sadrien Nightshade It also works if you don't believe. Hypnosis has nothing to do with believes.

[@c1gomez19]

y2ksw1 Not really. It's said clearly on the video. Hypnosis has to be voluntary and you have to be openned to the idea that it works, like a placebo. If you don't want to be hypnotized and offer concious resistence then it won't work.

[@y2ksw1]

Andrew S Volunteering has nothing in common with believe. I can volunteer for a job, even if I don't believe in it or its essence. I can volunteer as a fireman and never have seen or touched real fire or danger. Volunteering is the mode of the personal disposal towards a goal, while believe is acknowledging a fact which is eventually not true.

[@delilahredbull2792]

I find it easy to listen to a voice that feels comforting.

[@JacobShepley]

I really like Michael's presenting skills. He has become really good.

[@Houdini111]

Thank you for making this. Too many misconceptions about this.

[@liekes9344]

I would totally wanna forget all of Harry Potter. I would LOVE to read that again for the first time!

[@cjg8763]

Definitely! There's a lot of things I'd live to do again for the "first time" and reading Harry Potter would certainly be a good one.

[@JaneDoe-ci3gj]

Same👍😊💞

[@sansgirlfriend]

Me too!

[@ninjaked1265]

There’s a website called unspoil me

[@chrisforsyth8323]

Thanks for avoiding the spoiler at 7:45 , Michael. It was very thoughtful for all the hypnotized fans.

[@DarkAngelNikita]

For me, hypnosis feels like it could be an altered state of consciousness. I mostly use it to relax, to help my brain slow down at night to sleep, and it feels like a state of deep relaxation and vague awareness that I can't achieve otherwise. There is an element of playing along, as any instructions that don't sit right will pull you out of it. As with anything else, if it's something you're interested in, it's something that's easier to do the longer you do it.

[@helenwhite2957]

I have been hypnotized before. I was in a lot of pain. I was having strange migraine head aches that would not go away and they were there 24/7. I was willing to try anything so I asked my dad about trying hypnosis and we went to see a doctor who had a doctoret’s degree in hypnosis and she was really nice and she hypnotized me and the pain went away😁

[@Add_Account485]

WOW! THATS FULL ON HEY!? WONDER WHAT UR MRI /EEG SCAN WOULD HAVE SAID... IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT , THEN WHAT DO WE NEED DRUGS OR MEDICINES FOR?

[@Add_Account485]

@Lisa Jordan I don't know about hypnosis but maybe self induced psychosis.. Or mere mass level stupidity. . neanderthal brain , of wanting to fit in really and be a part of a group... Because I've never understood how anyone can believe in UNPROVABLE with complete contradiction

[@DayTrader__]

No such thing as a doctoret in hypnosis….

[@galaxymel18]

Excited for PsyShow 😀

[@thewanderingisraelite]

I took a class some years back with a Calvin D. Banyon, at his facilities in Texas. During the training he diagrammed the mind showing the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious areas. The subconscious is where we "store" all the "data" we see, hear, or experience in our lives. From this data we derive our habits, beliefs, and emotions. The unconscious mind "believes" these emotions, and turns them into "feelings." While reading many of these comments, one can count the number of times people "wish" change their feelings, habits, and emotional reactions "changed" through hypnosis..!! Hoping to help with "happier" lives for all..!!

[@zemmy11]

Found this really late, lol. This is a fantastic video and you do a really great job of describing some of the key points of hypnosis and its practical applications. Personally, I just like to entertain but I think of entertainment with hypnosis as a way of getting peoples attention and letting them know that the practical applications exists and are available. I should just show this video to anyone I'm going to hypnotize in the future.

[@Tomyb15]

So, hypnosis sound a lot like when we "doze off" or "get stuck" looking at something.

[@benjaminheim735]

Yes that is hypnosis

[@calebmatthews2026]

Yup.... zoning out. It’s not that serious. Hey it’s part of the process of falling asleep. You go through it literally every time you sleep

[@alisonaicard]

Its more like when you watch TV or play video games(typically men and kids). Also happens when you drive and when you boss instructs you on what you will do.

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

@@calebmatthews2026 yeah... that’s not actual hypnosis.

[@Ray2311us]

The greatest form of hypnosis today is comedy. Because you raise the emotions to a certain frequency, and you start to have the waves of tension ( built up from any tense thought patterns ) released,. When it is released, the rate of suggestibility goes up, because we become in a parasympathetic state. ( Anything, that promotes the well being of your physical body regenerating in a peaceful manner will be taken into consideration ).

[@DameiusLameocrates]

Stopped 30 seconds before the end, fuck the system!

[@ketchuplady2979]

And I threw it on the ground!

[@BrianYoungquist]

Full disclosure, I'm a hypnotherapist. I concede full bias on how effective it can be. I'm pretty much on board with everything said in this video, minus the idea that certain individuals are more "hypnotizable" than others. In my experience, we are all naturally very good at hypnosis. Getting the "10 mile stare", or daydreaming, becoming so engrossed in an activity that hours feel like minutes, and driving somewhere, arriving at your destination and not remembering many parts of the trip, are all examples of our incredible ability to focus within ourselves and heal. Great video.

[@minami1843]

Very good explained! Thanks!

[@aheh605]

Once a hypno-therapist came to my school, and she hypnotized my friend and got him to forget 7. He could count to 7, he'd just go straight from 6 to 8, he couldn't remember for a day or two after lol

[@BlueSkyCountry]

You have to be trusting and willing to make yourself vulnerable for hypnosis to work on you. Your friend was definitely a trusting type. I've had multiple hypnosis attempts done on me. Never worked. I simply do not "let go", under any circumstances. And having a woman hypnotist try on me? Even less chance LOL. I would be too self conscious to not embarrass myself in front of her...

[@zxwy37]

"Focus your eyes on this swinging watch. You're getting sleepy, very sleepy" Okay okay, Scishow, it's not my fault your channel is so damn fun that I'm watching your videos even at 04:37 AM...

[@976eviltitans4]

How strange that while reading your comment 4 years later, i look at the time on my phone and guess what... 4:37 A.M.

[@amoththatthinks]

@@976eviltitans4 i think you are the main character

[@joshuastolarski3747]

thats an oddly specific time karl

[@jepleure]

Having Michael Aranda host this video was a wise choice. There's just something about his voice that's incredibly relaxing and pleasing to the ears...

[@markbravaco2912]

Great video this is awesome!!! I love this kind of stuff!

[@solum_mirari5925]

My grandfather was hypnotized to stop smoking, and it worked. He never smoked again.

[@chantalchar]

Melissa Geckensmerf my dad tried that and it only worked for a while. He ended up quitting through placebo pills

[@Jwdude123]

Musta been an idiot

[@Oliviux78]

I need that!

[@JaneDoe-ci3gj]

@@chantalchar Does placebo pills really work if you know they're placebo🤔? Not trying to be sarcastic just wondering.

[@joshurlay]

This should have been a SciShow Psych upload :)

[@forgottenshards8478]

I have been hypnotized a couple of times not by real people but by recordings I can tell you that I can think clearly vaguely hear sounds around me and able to block out things much easier

[@nismac12]

Grat job, thanks for the video ✊✌

[@alexsiemers7898]

Who else intentionally didn't finish the video?

[@otashi3239]

Alex Siemers me

[@iamlena]

Piotr Rywciu badass 2

[@jeaniebird999]

I REFUSE TO BE CONTROLLED!

[@cringemaster2874]

I just wanted to know how to do it

[@ghostshadow1367]

I fell into a deep coma after watching this for 30 seconds

[@arachne6074]

Hypnosis being a state of focused relaxation. I have ADHD and I’ve played around with self hypnosis. It worked sort of. For a long period I was in this bubble of relaxation and focus, but one thought would shatter my hypnotic state. I had the hardest time going through a session without that happening and I think it’s because of the ADHD. I can’t focus. That was the problem

[@arachne6074]

@@Johnsmith-jg2nt this might just be the weird way my brain interprets things, but when I hypnotized myself I would get in this state of focus that get like a bubble keeping me insulated from everything else, until I notice something and then pop the bubble is gone and it takes a lot to get back into focus mode.

[@LaineyBug2020]

You would be an amazing hypnotist. Something about watching and listening to you is already so soothing!

[@GinAmber]

I just did my first hypnotherapy and wow, memories from childhood came up what I have never thought it would, l like it 🤩

[@akshorts2115]

So miss can hypnotherapy be used to delete memories

[@Maarrii94]

That was a damned good hypnosis! I did watch the whole video!

[@gamerattitude9314]

now if i could just hypnotize myself to actually be willing to do school work and finish all of it...

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

No. Not a good idea

[@sobber69]

I've done so much research on Hypnosis and this was helpful

[@imtired222333]

I loved this video. I listen to hypnosis every night at bed time, and it's really awesome to know the science behind it :)

[@LightningSe7en]

The stroop test is easy. Just don't "look" at the letters eg. use peripheral vision or something. You can still see color but not see the letters.

[@SoulSyster]

That isn't the point of the test, though. The test is measuring your ability to perform a conflicting task; if you aren't reading the words, your results would not indicate your performance on a Stroop test but rather your ability to perceive different colors.

[@LightningSe7en]

Jess Then you are saying that the hypnosis is useless as it "deactivated the area of the brain necessary for word recognition" when in principle I used the same. I turned my "word recognition off" for the sake of the test. In turn, the hypnotized didn't do better *based on the point you've made*.

[@Zalaniar]

You're very bad at trying to sound smart. You're just making yourself look stupid. In case you really are ignorant, I'll explain. The study used the Stroop test as a means of measuring whether or not the hypnosis worked. Your initial comment was talking about the Stroop test in general, which is what Jess was referring to, by saying (in not so many words) that the Stroop test isn't a "game" that you just win; rather, it measures your ability to perform a conflicting task.

[@LightningSe7en]

+Irixio Zalaniar Since you just repeated what she said then you can just read what I answered to her. Also, you interpret the Stroop test incorrectly. It is not your ability to perform a conflicting task. *You are not tasked to both read the word and describe the color at the same time*. The conflict is not the task but the processing of the information. I'll repeat it just in case. *The task is in no way conflicting*. You are tasked either *read the word* or *describe the color*. The reaction time is slowed because your brain processes incorrectly. It is also used "to measure a person’s selective attention capacity and skills, as well as their processing speed ability".

[@Zalaniar]

You're very bad at trying to sound smart. You're just making yourself look stupid. I was rewording Jess's comment to fit your simple mind better. It didn't work, so let's try again. The hypnotized people did better (as shown in the video), and Jess didn't say that they didn't do better. You said that the Stroop test is easy in your initial comment. The method you provided to "win" the Stroop test (which, once again, isn't a game) defeats the purpose of the test. Let me clarify the Stroop test for you, since you clearly don't understand how it works: you are asked to state the color of text the word is written in. You are never asked to read the word. The task IS conflicting: there is a conflict between what the written word is and what the color of the word is. There is a conflict between the natural tendency to read the word and the task of ignoring the word. There is a conflict between saying the correct color and saying the word itself. The Stroop test in the example presented in the video is being used as a basis for controlled measurement of the effects of the hypnosis. Without the hypnosis, the test is taken by the participants to establish the control (as in, a baseline of an experiment). When the hypnosis is applied, the test is taken again to see if the participants' scores improve. This provides the results of the experiment. Since you clearly didn't understand the first time you read Jess's comment, I'll summarize here, given the "new" (read: common sense) information you gained by reading the rest of my comment. The purpose of the test is to measure a person's ability to state the color of text when that color CONFLICTS (there's that word again) with the color word written, even though the brain wants to simply read the word. If you eliminate the written word portion of the test by "using peripheral vision", you may as well just look at squares of color and state the color. Then, there is clearly no "test" anymore, which completely defeats the purpose of the Stroop TEST. If you plan to respond to this comment, please re-watch the video and re-read the comments in this thread. I do hate ignorance.

[@BillyDrakePianoMan]

You had me at “wine”.

[@StevenRossAuthor]

Thank you for the inspiration, your team, and to look at life from a better perspective of monitoring the brain

[@zolikar1]

You are awesome SciShow! :)

[@pumpkinpartysystem]

Wow, this is actually pretty accurate. Hopefully more people see this video, so they understand that hypnosis isn't even close to how most non-scientific media portrays it. I've been doing a lot with hypnosis over the past half year or so, and in that time I've hypnotised people and been hypnotised myself well over 300 times, and my experiences with it mostly line up to what this video says.

[@hughstout]

Post-hypnotic amnesia: the cure for accidental/unwanted sudden spoilers. Sign me up!

[@BuceGar]

Good video and information. Well worth the watch.

[@AntonyReed]

I'm waaay late to this party, but thanks for shedding light on this powerful tool.

[@chorus1407]

Once when my brother and I were young, we tried hypnosis on each other after seeing it on an educational tv show. I was able to hypnotize him fairly easily, but it never worked on me.

[@celestus87]

What the hell?!? I remember that I started watching this video but I fell asleep and I woke up after it was over!

[@Articulate99]

Always interesting, thank you.

[@rockmind8458]

A very nice video which explains the objective in a creative way.

[@abyssaljam441]

Having been hypnotised, Non-state Theory descibes what it felt like more than Altered state theory.

[@dustypartition]

altered state

[@b.sylphaen]

Curious! I felt the opposite. I meditate a lot and I studied neuroscience and I definitely think its an altered state. At first I felt like I was just playing along with the therapist, but then I saw a picture in my mind (a rope on a boat) that didnt exactly mean anything, but I started crying uncontrollably.

[@y2ksw1]

Abyssaljam When hypnosis starts, you are walking along for a very long time (usually for hours). Once you get comfortable with it, you can also change your perception. But it is always your choice and never the therapist's.

[@firelegendmushroom]

Abyssaljam I've been on both sides of hypnosis many times and I personally think both theories apply to some degree. I think it is a different state of consciousness, but there's no clear line between hypnotized and not hypnotized. It's an organic progression and when you're not in the "perfectly hypnotized" state (which I don't think anyone ever strictly is), the kind of "playing along" described in non-state theory can help to alleviate doubts and distractions that get in the way of successful hypnosis. Yet I think there is some truth to the altered state theory describing a lack of presence, when very far under. Of course, it could still just be the mind playing tricks on itself. It's very subjective.

[@lovezys1235]

I have been hypnotized it was so weird 😵

[@Bambuzzsprosse]

Thank you for this video. During my personal and business coaching education I learned a few hypnosis tools in the hypnotherapy segment that really do work but are something completely different from show hypnosis. Unfortunately show hypnosis is THE thing stucked in people's head when they hear the term "hypnosis" and therefore it has a pretty bad reputation.

[@PattPlays]

That's why ya call it other things. IE: Meditation

[@Bambuzzsprosse]

I simply call it hypnosis and the "other" thing show hypnosis. Why should I call the REAL thing something else? I simply explain my clients what it is in a calm and professional manner and show the differences between these two things. Normally, people tend to react pretty positive.

[@MaxBrains]

If nothing else, it's annoying that stage hypnosis seems to have leaned on the sorts of suggestions that lead to people doing embarrassing things, and cultivating this "mind control" fantasy. The possibilities are endless; you don't have to leave people afraid to see a therapist for others to get some enjoyment out of it.

[@y2ksw1]

Bambuzzsprosse Exactly. I was attracted by show hypnosis to the point to study psychology, and with the knowledge of the whole, I have stepped back for magnitudes. It is still fascinating, but the work behind it makes it much less attractive. I still use it however for some party tricks or just for my personal fun. The artificially induced drunkness is one of these, which are pretty easy to obtain (but still not in a few minutes). There is also a movie from Derren Brown on KZbin, which shows this routine. Talking nonsense while somebody is concentrated at the phone, is my personal fun. After a short while, I try to interrupt the phone routine and most of the times, people talk nonsense, too, and, that is the funny part, they find out immediately and can't explain themselves. 😄

[@amelia-marilabuschagne551]

Thank you for the guidance.

[@kaleidokai11]

I'm so pumped for scishow psychology

[@sunny_ua]

Holy crap! So I can get myself hypnotyzed to forget some of my favorite games and experience them again? Where do I sign up?

[@christopherholmes559]

Woooooowwwwwwww!!! Brain regions were affected by hypnotic suggestions? Doesn’t that mean hypnosis works for those that are highly suggestible? Amazing.

[@YouWhoSay]

loved this episode!

[@prankmastereight]

I think putting someone under hypnosis is kinda like starting a fire using friction. It's very slow at first and it takes a lot of work but the more you progress the easier it gets and a lot of tender work is required. The amber size is like the suggestions you make, the heat of the amber is the state they're in and the fuel and air is like the focus, relaxation, disassociation and good feelings. They need to be as relaxed as possible, have something for them to focus on and start off with very small suggestions to promote more focus, relaxation, disassociation and good feelings. Then you gradually build it up until you can make them do some crazy things.

[@michaelmeissner7545]

From my experiences as a student watching a live hypnosis show involving other students, either it's real, or they planted some incredible actors in the audience to be selected. Ah, fun times!

[@thatlemonmelon2714]

It’s real, and it’s, really evil

[@canipleasehaveyourname]

@@thatlemonmelon2714 then why is you watching this bro, go away lmfao

[@target0330]

Okay, uh, whoever's reading this maybe read the last bit first and then skim the rest because it's probably too long to read. I think it's about concentration/expectations. I've watched some KZbin hypnosis videos, and found that they worked- for example, one that made me unable to move my leg. It suggested that I should either wait for 5-10 minutes for it to work again, or leave a comment saying to please release my leg. It worked and when I came out of the trance I was unable to move my leg. It sort of shuddered when I tried to move it, but then stopped. It was similar to the sensation of deciding to move your leg and then _deciding not to_ and keeping it still. I was tensing the muscles to lift the leg but then not following through. I didn't think I was actively telling it to keep still, so I decided "there's no way it's physically possible for my leg to be unable to move, I'm simply creating a mental block against it" and after a few tries and focusing on getting rid of the mental block, I was able to move freely again. This all comes down to what you _decide to believe_. Since I believed I couldn't move my leg, I unconsciously stopped myself from moving it. There was another video I watched similar to the previous one and I decided to remove some of the suggestions as they were being spoken. I believed some of them, but each time the speaker said one I didn't want, I sort of mentally told myself the opposite. Afterwards the ones I tried to remove were gone. This shows that I was conscious and aware during the hypnosis; I was able to carry out my experiment and remember the process. Unless, of course, I was doing it wrong/just telling myself I was being hypnotized. But I'd like it if someone else tried the same experiments to confirm my results.

[@y2ksw1]

There are a few good examples on KZbin. One is about making a fist and imagine to strife over a field, feeling wheat crops in your (other) hand. Then, you are told to open your other hand and you can't, or feel at least a strong tendency to keep it closed. It is curious to watch yourself how over time this tendency becomes less strong. I cannot tell if it is believe or not, but it has definitively to do with will. I can force myself to open the hand, but I prefer not to.

[@target0330]

y2ksw1 That's interesting. You "prefer not to"? Is that actually just a preference not to open your hand, or is it more that you _can_ break the hypnosis by telling yourself it's not real/forcing your hand open but only if you exit the... I don't know, the _roleplay_ of the hypnosis, which isn't as fun? Or is it that the hypnosis has told you to not prefer to open your hand?

[@y2ksw1]

Kara Hill Hypnosis is a dream-like state under many aspects, which you can only fully understand once you got hypnotized. Preferring not to do a thing is much like not to bother. And of course, you can break the hypnosis at any time. It's not a physical or mental constraint, but rather a pleasant state of day-dreaming.

[@target0330]

y2ksw1 Okay, that all makes sense and I agree, thank you for clarifying- except for the part about only understanding it once you're hypnotized. I felt as if I could understand it both in and out of the hypnotized state. But perhaps I'm mistaken?

[@y2ksw1]

Kara Hill It is difficult to understand how hypnosis feels without ever being hypnotized. Day-dreaming comes close, but is interrupted easily by external events, while hypnosis is interrupted easily only by yourself. External events can pass by completely without attracting your attention. For example, if you accept "not to know" the number 7, you will jump over it counting your fingers and have one left over, which you can't explain. And this fact is very funny for the world watching you, while you struggle to find out why you have missed one finger counting. Once you have been hypnotized, you will recognize certain behaviors easier than if you only have been watching hypnotized people.

[@Umneriko]

Wait wiat! I can relive playing my favorite video game for the first time again!? That's amazing!

[@indridcold8433]

My psychiatrist wanted to hypnotise me for a reason I have forgotten. However, I told him I had no belief in hypnosis. He then said, "If you do not believe in hypnosis, then it is very unlikely you can be hypnotised at all." This leads me to think that hyypnosis requires a certain level of belief in the technique for it to work. I guess it is like the placebo effect, mentioned.

[@Ryvucz]

The Stroop test is far more difficult to a colorblind person. We not only have to ignore the word, we also have to guess what color is being used.

[@acbthr3840]

OR, and here's a thought, you could tell them that you're colorblind so you don't screw up the test for no reason.

[@Ryvucz]

Acb Thr I think it would be better that you learn about Ryuta Kawashima and his work and not be so ignorant.

[@fishbuddy547]

Strange. I don't remember what this video was about but I remember watching it with a bowl of spaghettios.

[@yellowcactustvz4929]

You... put... Spaghettis... in... bowls... I wanna kill myself

[@Mentis_Mori]

Jeez, that pocket watch trope is freaking awesome

[@tatumhunter5087]

My grandfather is a hypnotist 😂 when we were little we would want him to try to hypnotize us- but we couldnt quit giggling. But he would help people around town with test anxiety and such before their exams ❤