| Most people vividly remember the scene in Star Wars | | | | Confusion |
| when Obi Wan Kenobi looks into the eyes of a guard | | | | The next step in conversational hypnosis is to confuse |
| and convinces him that the three wanted fugitives right | | | | the issue. Sometimes a simple question works. "But |
| in front of him are not the people he is looking for. | | | | even if there is no way out, can you be absolutely |
| Wouldn't it be great to have similar influence over | | | | sure that a solution won't pop into your mind in the |
| people? The term conversational hypnosis suggests | | | | next minute or so?" |
| that we can. | | | | Another technique used to create confusion in |
| Of course, conversational hypnosis is not as simple as | | | | conversational hypnosis is to encourage resistance, |
| it sounds. Rather, it is a series of well-choreographed | | | | perhaps by saying, "No one could solve that problem. |
| strategies and manipulations that may bring others | | | | It's simply too complex. There's absolutely no way out. |
| around to your point of view. | | | | You don't have a chance" At some point, the subject |
| The principles of conversational hypnosis were first | | | | will probably start arguing with you that the problem is |
| conceived by the great hypnotist and psychotherapist | | | | not so unsolvable after all! |
| Milton Erickson. Erickson believed that trance states | | | | Still another confusion technique is to suggest that the |
| were not rare occurrences that had to be elaborately | | | | subject do more of something that isn't working. For |
| induced. He believed people slip into trance states | | | | instance, an obese subject might be encouraged to |
| several times a day, for instance, when they are | | | | gain weight. |
| waiting for a bus or concentrating very hard on | | | | Suggestion |
| something they are reading. | | | | The final step in conversational hypnosis is to make an |
| Erickson also theorized that directly trying to induce a | | | | indirect suggestion such as, "You're feeling a bit less |
| trance state in someone or trying to give them direct | | | | hopeless now, aren't you?" or "I don't know why, but it |
| suggestions might lead to resistance. He preferred to | | | | seems to me you look more optimistic than you did a |
| use rapport, indirect suggestions, and confusion to | | | | few minutes ago." |
| induce trance states and influence compliance. | | | | Needless to say, conversational hypnosis is no easy |
| Rapport | | | | feat, and it is best left to professionals. |
| The first step in conversational hypnosis is creating a | | | | If you would like to know more about conversational |
| rapport with the subject. This means agreeing with | | | | hypnosis, several websites offer online courses on the |
| what they have to say. For instance, if the subject | | | | topic. You might also try reading a clinical biography of |
| says, "There's no way out of this," the proper | | | | Milton Erickson. |
| response is, "You're right. There's no way out." | | | | |