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Chapter 14
Hypnosis and Altered States of Consciousness |
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For thousands of years, philosophers and scientists alike have recognized that thoughts can affect both behavior and bodily functions. But during the past century or so, great efforts have been made to learn if it's possible to actually direct these thoughts to influence the physical world. So far, the evidence indicates that the best way to do so is by reaching a state beyond normal, everyday consciousness. |
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Remember when we mentioned Franz Mesmer in Chapter 2? He's the doctor who invented the idea of putting patients in a hypnotic state during, or as a form of, treatment. That way, he could help them ignore pain during a procedure or help them relax if they suffered from anxiety. When Freud came along with his theory of the subconscious mind, the plot thickened. By the beginning of the 20th century, the pieces were in place for people to invent ways to direct the subconscious mind to control thoughts and, hence, behavior. We'll show you how you can tap into that power yourself in this chapter. |
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