ABSTRACT
The fundamental problem in hypnosis research has emerged repeatedly throughout the two centuries since Mesmer's first "magnetic" treatments. The specific forms it has taken have been as superficially different in every era as is the antelope from the whale, but with proper background the underlying uniformity can be discerned. The chapter presents synoptic chart of major historic events in hypnosis. The history of hypnotism from Mesmer to the present day may conveniently be divided into four periods, representing stages of scientific sophistication. These four stages are: presomnambulistic mesmerism, somnambulistic mesmerism, the early psychological period, and the later psychological or modern period. Hypnotic therapy in the Nancy tradition consisted essentially of induction of the state of heightened suggestibility, and then verbal suggestion of general well-being and direct symptom disappearance in a tone of authority and confidence. Although hypnosis is sometimes used as a tool in the context of long-term conventional psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, the emphasis is usually on brevity.
