ABSTRACT
The concepts of conscious and unconscious minds grew directly from the work of Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz. His idea influenced later developments in psychophysics, Freudian psychoanalysis, and the field of hypnosis. This chapter describes phrenology and how the read of one domain of features can serve as a read of other features, namely, intellectual resources and personality traits. It analyzes the contributions of Franz Anton Mesmer based upon his concept of animal magnetism. The chapter discusses the central role of the study of hypnosis for the establishment of clinical psychology and the results of efficacy and effectiveness studies. It also discusses the effect of conditions such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of educational opportunities as they potentially relate to stress and illness. The real issue is to deal directly with the root causes of stress and mental health problems of the “many” rather than focus primarily upon the “few” who can afford psychotherapy.
