I.

Introduction

Hypnosis, altered state of consciousness and heightened responsiveness to suggestion; it may be induced in most individuals by a variety of methods and has been used occasionally in medical and psychiatric treatment. Most frequently hypnosis is brought about through the actions of an operator, the hypnotist, who engages the attention of a subject and assigns certain tasks to him or her while uttering monotonous, repetitive verbal commands. Such tasks may include muscle relaxation, eye fixation, and arm levitation. Hypnosis may also be self-induced, by trained relaxation, concentration on one's own breathing, or by a variety of monotonous practices and rituals that are found in many mystical, philosophical, and religious systems.