Theories
Dissociation
The theory that a hypnotised person was in a dissociated state was first used by Pierre Janet in 1901.
He claimed that the conscious and unconscious mind split off from each other when the trance state
is induced. Janet also claimed that dissociation can be partial as well as complete.
e.g. in certain inductions and deepners the therapist can use suggestion so parts of the clients body
can appear to be hot or cold or not even able to feel them at all.
Neo-Dissociation
Ernest Hillgard borrowed the idea that various process split off from conscious awareness and he
also expanded in the idea by using the metaphors of the "cloak of amnesia" and "the hidden
observer".
An example of the hidden observer:
A client reporting pain while at the same time another part reports no pain at all, because of this
Hilgard suggests that different streams of consciousness operate at the same time & the are
separated by amnesiac barriers.
Altered State of Consciousness
"any of various states of awareness (as dreaming sleep, a drug-induced hallucinogenic state, or a trance) that deviate from and are usually clearly demarcated from ordinary waking consciousness" merriam webster
The theory that a hypnotised person was in a dissociated state was first used by Pierre Janet in 1901.
He claimed that the conscious and unconscious mind split off from each other when the trance state
is induced. Janet also claimed that dissociation can be partial as well as complete.
e.g. in certain inductions and deepners the therapist can use suggestion so parts of the clients body
can appear to be hot or cold or not even able to feel them at all.
Neo-Dissociation
Ernest Hillgard borrowed the idea that various process split off from conscious awareness and he
also expanded in the idea by using the metaphors of the "cloak of amnesia" and "the hidden
observer".
An example of the hidden observer:
A client reporting pain while at the same time another part reports no pain at all, because of this
Hilgard suggests that different streams of consciousness operate at the same time & the are
separated by amnesiac barriers.
Altered State of Consciousness
"any of various states of awareness (as dreaming sleep, a drug-induced hallucinogenic state, or a trance) that deviate from and are usually clearly demarcated from ordinary waking consciousness" merriam webster
