*1.1.2 Similarities between concentrative meditation and hypnosis*

The concentration and attentional practices employed that result in an altered state are similar for both classical hypnosis and concentration meditation; the neurophysiology associated with those states and the phenomenology of those altered states are also similar [11].

**23**

*Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: The Role of Traditional Versus Alternative Approach*

Focusing attention by attempts to relax and concentrate the mind is the beginning of both meditation and hypnosis. The breath is the main focus of most meditators nowadays. Staring at a spot, watching pendulum swinging, etc., are ways of focusing and sustaining in hypnosis [7]. Hypnosis literature describes the method used to reach the state as suppressing competing thoughts, or as dis-attending to competing stimuli [12]. Ayya Khema described it in meditation literature as letting

Many types of meditation such as the Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Jewish emphasize on letting go of thoughts and concentration like the attentional focus procedures in hypnosis. In meditation, especially the Buddhist type, mindfulness practices are usually employed. Concentrative practice lets go of thoughts, focuses attention and shifts it to a subtler experience. Participants are trained in mindfulness meditation to describe mental states and activities in great detail and to observe the rapidly shifting thoughts, emotions, panorama of sensations, etc. [14, 15]. Concentration and mindfulness are both cultivated and work synergistically. Concentration is language associated ancient Buddhist that leads to altered states of consciousness and aims at serenity, one of which at least resembles deep sleep. Cognitive, emotional, and motivational changes as they increase in depth demonstrate an altered state called absorption [16]. Mindfulness aims at altered states of consciousness and provides an insight through observation of one's own mental processes. In behavioral medicine and pain management programs, Vipassana meditation has been used to teach patients how to become less reactive by objectifying their sensations [17]. Despite the fact that altered states are usually first identified by subjective experiences, relatively, the observation of one's own mental

Qualitative changes can be specified by absorption that is reached through concentration. The movement to absence of thought with prevailing calmness from the normal everyday mind with prevailing thoughts occurs in the four stages of absorption. The meditator's attention basically focuses first on an object and then on subtle experience increasingly, the phenomenal fields are then abandoned more and more. The movement of the meditator to a more peaceful happy feeling and then to composure from a stage of attendant physical experience with aroused positive emotion is achieved. In the fourth stage of absorption, a characteristic peaceful feeling of calmness is achieved with a very much aware mind like what one obtains

Trained meditators usually can recognize these states of absorption and be able to report on the absence or presence of mental qualities such as feeling of joy or rupture, associative thinking, feeling of calmness, etc. Mindfulness is facilitated as the mind becomes quiet in concentrative meditation; however, mindfulness is not the principal goal of concentrative meditation. The meditator can report back

There are at least two methods for assessing qualities of inner experience viz.: The Experience Analysis Technique [11, 19] and the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory or PCI [19, 20]; however, these methods have been

Sustaining and focusing attention in both meditation and hypnosis lead to similar

changes in mental state [21]. In a study involving two groups, Indian Kundalini

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91619*

go of thoughts and perceptions [13].

processes has been neglected in hypnosis research [11].

on the qualities of the trance state observed [18].

*1.1.4 Hypnosis and meditation phenomenology*

*1.1.3 The altered states*

in deep hypnosis [11].

underutilized [11].

#### *Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: The Role of Traditional Versus Alternative Approach DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91619*

Focusing attention by attempts to relax and concentrate the mind is the beginning of both meditation and hypnosis. The breath is the main focus of most meditators nowadays. Staring at a spot, watching pendulum swinging, etc., are ways of focusing and sustaining in hypnosis [7]. Hypnosis literature describes the method used to reach the state as suppressing competing thoughts, or as dis-attending to competing stimuli [12]. Ayya Khema described it in meditation literature as letting go of thoughts and perceptions [13].

Many types of meditation such as the Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Jewish emphasize on letting go of thoughts and concentration like the attentional focus procedures in hypnosis. In meditation, especially the Buddhist type, mindfulness practices are usually employed. Concentrative practice lets go of thoughts, focuses attention and shifts it to a subtler experience. Participants are trained in mindfulness meditation to describe mental states and activities in great detail and to observe the rapidly shifting thoughts, emotions, panorama of sensations, etc. [14, 15]. Concentration and mindfulness are both cultivated and work synergistically. Concentration is language associated ancient Buddhist that leads to altered states of consciousness and aims at serenity, one of which at least resembles deep sleep. Cognitive, emotional, and motivational changes as they increase in depth demonstrate an altered state called absorption [16]. Mindfulness aims at altered states of consciousness and provides an insight through observation of one's own mental processes. In behavioral medicine and pain management programs, Vipassana meditation has been used to teach patients how to become less reactive by objectifying their sensations [17]. Despite the fact that altered states are usually first identified by subjective experiences, relatively, the observation of one's own mental processes has been neglected in hypnosis research [11].

### *1.1.3 The altered states*

*Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis*

orthodox medicine.

suggestions [8].

of the HF [10].

*and meditation*

without formal induction [6].

states are also similar [11].

hypnotizable subjects [9].

**1.1 Heart-rate variability as a measure of hypnotic depth**

Misperceptions about hypnosis by clinical practitioners and their clients have been shaped through years of inaccurate but interesting portrayals of hypnosis in books, plays, and movies. Part of the misperceptions is that individuals with seemingly magical powers to manipulate the unsuspecting innocent with their authoritative voice commands and penetrating eyes are depicted as hypnotists. For these reasons, witch doctors, evil scientists, space aliens, and vampires have all been portrayed as using hypnosis to achieve their dubious ends [6]. Hypnosis is introduced to others as a form of entertainment on television talk shows or at comedy clubs. Volunteers from the audience act out of fantasies to make the audience laugh from the hypnotist's simple commands for sleep and snaps of the fingers. The individuals hypnotized appear to apparently behave in ways that are contrary to normal behavior or out of character. However, some clinical practitioners themselves have contributed to further exacerbate this denigrative image of hypnosis [6]. This chapter will review the traditional and conventional approaches used in hypnosis, their advantages and disadvantages as well as where hypnosis is used as a complementary or alternative therapy to the modern day

Ensuring sufficient depth to induce genuine hypnotic responsiveness is one of the major challenges in hypnotic research [7]. Hypnotic susceptibility, a stationary characteristic of a subject, is distinct from hypnotic depth, which is a dynamic property that represents the subject's momentary capacity for response to hypnotic

Electro-encephalogram (EEG) is a candidate for monitoring neural activity. Higher power over the alpha, beta, and theta parietal region associated with sustained-attentional processing and greater EEG asymmetry was seen in the highly

In an investigation, heart rate, frequency of changes from a time-frequency analysis of heart-rate variability (HRV), and amplitude were compared with the continuous self-rated hypnotic depth (SRHD) of 10 volunteers. The investigation recorded significant linear relationships between the high-frequency (HF) component of the heart-rate variability (HRV) and the continuous self-rated hypnotic depth (SRHD), the continuous self-rated hypnotic depth (SRHD) correlated positively with the amplitude of the HF component and negatively with the frequency

Generally, quieting of the mind is achieved during meditation, which may be compared with hypnosis. Meditation may qualify as hypnosis depending on the state achieved, especially if suggestions are given to achieve a desired effect. Although meditation may be self-directed, hypnosis can however occur naturally

The concentration and attentional practices employed that result in an altered state are similar for both classical hypnosis and concentration meditation; the neurophysiology associated with those states and the phenomenology of those altered

*1.1.1 A brief insight into the similarities and differences between hypnosis* 

*1.1.2 Similarities between concentrative meditation and hypnosis*

**22**

Qualitative changes can be specified by absorption that is reached through concentration. The movement to absence of thought with prevailing calmness from the normal everyday mind with prevailing thoughts occurs in the four stages of absorption. The meditator's attention basically focuses first on an object and then on subtle experience increasingly, the phenomenal fields are then abandoned more and more. The movement of the meditator to a more peaceful happy feeling and then to composure from a stage of attendant physical experience with aroused positive emotion is achieved. In the fourth stage of absorption, a characteristic peaceful feeling of calmness is achieved with a very much aware mind like what one obtains in deep hypnosis [11].

Trained meditators usually can recognize these states of absorption and be able to report on the absence or presence of mental qualities such as feeling of joy or rupture, associative thinking, feeling of calmness, etc. Mindfulness is facilitated as the mind becomes quiet in concentrative meditation; however, mindfulness is not the principal goal of concentrative meditation. The meditator can report back on the qualities of the trance state observed [18].

There are at least two methods for assessing qualities of inner experience viz.: The Experience Analysis Technique [11, 19] and the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory or PCI [19, 20]; however, these methods have been underutilized [11].
