What is hypnosis?

If you look up the word hypnosis in the dictionary you will read something along the lines of “a sleep-like state”, or “to be in a state that resembles sleep”. Most hypnotists though will disagree with the contention that hypnosis has anything to do with sleep. Many hypnotists will
tell you that hypnosis is the opposite of sleep, a heightened state of acute awareness.

Some hypnotists have talked about hypnosis as “an altered state of consciousness”, or “a state that is neither full consciousness nor full unconsciousness”. These are very vague descriptions of a state that has no agreed upon definition. The problem, of course is that if you
can’t define it, how do you know when it is or is not present?

“The Amazing Kreskin” has a definition of hypnosis that is, in my opinion, is the best one to come along yet. Kreskin has said that hypnosis does not exist--that its existence is a myth. In his book Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin, he states, “hypnosis is persuasion to accept a suggestion”. That is a very insightful, well thought out and accurate definition. What I believe
Kreskin means by that definition is that the “trance state” often believed to be associated with “hypnosis” is in fact completely separate from hypnosis, and has nothing to do with hypnosis. In other words, when a person is “hypnotized” they are simply following your suggestions. You
have persuaded them to do what you say.