There is a particular bond of sympathy between the hypnotist and the patient - even Freud described hypnosis as a ‘society of two’ - and its effects can be so powerful and far-reaching that its use for medical purposes should be strictly confined to fully qualified medical men.

Turning now from the hypnotist to the subject, we find that for all practical purposes nearly everybody can be hypnotized, given the right prevailing circumstances.

Actual figures, which are based on statistics involving thousands of cases, show that 5% or less of people are uninfluenced to any appreciable degree, while 95% are susceptible to the hypnotic influence. This does not mean that 95% of people can be placed in a deep hypnotic trance immediately. 10%, for instance, will reach no more than the hypnoidal state which, as will be seen later, is a very light stage indeed. 25%, however, can enter a light trance where the hypnotic influence is quite definite; while 35%, will develop a medium trance in which the effects are even more marked.

The ability to reach the very deepest state of trance - the somnambulistic stage - seems to be limited to about 25% of the population. When it is seen that about one person in four can go into a very deep state of hypnosis quickly and easily, it will be understood how stage hypnotists - who select these people by special tests - are able to give impressive performances.

Few people appear to notice this process of selection, and their attention is so taken up with the antics of a few deeply hypnotized subjects that they forget that by far the greater proportion of volunteers has been rejected. Such performances give a wrong impression, and people form the opinion that, if hypnosis is to succeed, then every patient should be as deeply hypnotized as the ones they saw on the stage. The whole value of hypnosis in medicine lies in the fact that 90% to 95% of people can be hypnotized to a light stage which is quite sufficient for medical purposes.

If hypnosis were limited to those who could enter the very deepest state of trance, then it would be of small use in medicine. The figures which have been quoted are not based on the results which may be obtained at the first attempt. It is well known that many patients may be too nervous or too anxious to concentrate properly at the first attempt, so that only a very slight or even no degree of hypnosis may result. Such patients, if they have derived their ideas from stage hypnotists, will conclude that they are bad subjects. This is true enough; but the danger lies in the fact that they follow this up by thinking that they will never be able to achieve any degree of hypnosis, and are thus discouraged. This despairing and disappointed attitude of mind, coupled with belief in their own inadequacy, may be sufficient to prevent future attempts at hypnosis from being successful.

It should be explained, therefore, that although they cannot expect to enter a deep trance at once, as they have seen subjects doing on the stage, it will be possible to train them in a few sessions to enter a light or medium trance - some even learn to go deeper - which will be quite adequate for medical purposes.

Experience shows that, given the right approach and technique, even the most refractory patients can be influenced in time unless they are deliberately resisting.

The following case illustrates this point. The patient, who was a trained professional man, had a very keen analytical mind. Many years previously he had sought treatment from one of the most famous lay hypnotists, now dead. This man had specialized in achieving hypnosis by means of the direct gaze and an authoritative manner. The patient resented this, and simply could not stop analysing his sensations. As a result, no hypnosis was achieved even after a dozen attempts. 
The patient naturally concluded that he was a ‘bad subject’, and stated that he did not expect he would be able to ‘go under’ this time either.

It was explained to him that hypnotism was really a scientific subject and not a matter of ‘hocus-pocus’. Further, it was pointed out that as a scientific man he would be interested to observe all the phenomena he could bring about in himself merely by thinking of it under the guidance of the hypnotist. In this way the patient regarded the attempt at hypnosis as a scientific experiment and readily co-operated. As a result a light but definite hypnosis was obtained and at further sessions the depth was increased. A few sessions were sufficient to cure him of a habit which had troubled him for many years.

It is well known that hypnosis becomes easier with each succeeding session, and that the depth of hypnosis increases with each attempt up to the maximum of which the patient is capable. Anything up to a dozen sessions may be necessary to achieve the greatest depth possible. The practical point which arises from all this is that no patient should despair of deriving benefit from hypnosis, no matter how poor a subject he may prove to be at the first attempt.

Few hypnotists would care to emulate the feat of a certain German doctor who succeeded in hypnotizing a difficult subject after 700 attempts!
Nevertheless, there are few cases indeed which need be given up as unhypnotizable.

A great deal of the trouble and difficulty is due to the false beliefs concerning hypnosis which are held by the patient. These are usually derived from witnessing performances on the stage, reading old books on the subject or sensational stories in the Press and seeing cinema films of the horror or thriller variety. It is a strange fact that although patients seek treatment by hypnotism, they do so only as a last resort when all else has failed. Further, although they seek relief from their symptoms, it is seldom that they fail to exhibit a degree of resistance against the induction of the trance.

Often this appears to be involuntary and may betray itself by coughing, fidgeting and general inability to comply with the directions of the hypnotist. In spite of their voiced desire for hypnosis, few people really relish the idea of going into a trance. There is always the fear of handing over the control of their minds to another person.

This is often combined with the popular idea that a person must be ‘weak willed’ to be hypnotized. Patients commonly remark, ‘Well, I don’t think you’ll be able to hypnotize me, Doctor; you see, my will is so strong.’ They say this in all seriousness, when all the time it is quite apparent that they have no will-power worth talking about at all, often being the victims of alcoholism, drug addiction and various bad habits in general.

Actually, ‘will-power’ has nothing to do with hypnosis except the ordinary willingness to submit to the process and carry out the directions of the hypnotist, much in the same way as a patient would open the mouth for a dentist.

Hypnotism deals with the imagination, not the will-power.

Indeed, it may be described as a manipulation of the imagination, as has already been stated. Imagination is much more powerful than the will, and in any contest between the two the imagination will always win.

This can be easily proved. Place a plank of wood on the floor, and anybody can walk along it. Place the same plank high up in the air, say between two houses, and few people could walk across it. If asked why they could not, they will say, ‘I think’ (or, in other words, imagine) ‘I would get giddy and fall.’ As a result they would fall, and all the will-power in the world could not help them. On the other hand, a steeplejack, for instance, who thinks he can walk across it as easily as walking down the street, has no difficulty whatsoever in doing it. When a person is in a state of mind in which he would like to do something but thinks he cannot, then he will be unable to do it. If a person thinks he suffers from insomnia, he will be unable to go to sleep when he wishes, however much he wills himself to do it.

When the imagination and the will are in agreement and work together, then the strength of each is magnified many times. An idea once implanted in the mind tends to be carried out, unless it is definitely inhibited.

For instance: if people are asked to describe a spiral staircase, in the majority of cases they will make spiral motions with their hands while describing it. Few people are able to prevent themselves yawning if they see others doing so, as has been pointed out. If persons imagine strongly that they have insects crawling on them, it will be impossible for them to sit still or prevent scratching. Everybody can see pictures in the fire while resting quietly, and the more imaginative have no difficulty in seeing pictures in the crystal.

Certain factors increase the power of imagination—such as quiet and relaxation; and it is well known that emotion sensitizes the brain. When emotion enters the picture, then reason is pushed into the background. Hence people who scoff at the idea of ghosts in the security of company and well-lighted modern homes, are very likely to experience a few spine-chilling moments if left alone in an old dark house, reputed to be haunted, with the wind howling around outside. Creaking floor-boards can easily become ghostly footsteps, and innocent shadows assume the most terrifying shapes in spite of the fact that their reason tells them there is nothing to fear.