Hypnosis

In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, Melvyn Bragg leads a discussion with Devin Terhune, Quinton Deeley, and Catherine Wynne about the history, science, and cultural impact of hypnosis. The conversation begins with Franz Mesmer's 18th-century practices and traces the evolution of hypnosis through figures like James Braid, exploring its connections to religion, spirituality, and science. The panel discusses the varying susceptibility of individuals to hypnosis, its portrayal in literature by authors like Dickens and Stoker, and its use in stagecraft and performance. They also delve into the ethical considerations of hypnosis, its relationship to the placebo effect, and how it is currently viewed and used in the medical community, while also touching on areas where further research is needed, such as the power of language in suggestion and the understanding of belief.