INTRODUCTION
To many persons mention of the word “hypnotism” at once brings to mind a “Professor” in full-dress suit on a vaudeville stage putting “subjects” through laugh-provoking antics. Or the image of Svengali rises before the mind’s eyes, with long, lank fingers making mystic “passes” before the now helpless—not to say enslaved—victim, fascinated by the large, black, “sorcerer” eyes of the great master.
To such persons the “hypnotist” is rather closely identified with the “charlatan.” Happily, this conception of hypnotists and hypnotism is fading out in the strong, clear light of modern science.
Hypnotism and Suggestion (two phases of the same phenomenon) have now taken their legitimate places in psychology and medicine as subjects intimately related to our everyday life, in health and in disease. Whether we know it or not, Suggestion is at work all around and within us, day and night, from earliest childhood to the very close of our lives.
Hypnotism and suggestion have—against strong opposition—won an important place in the history of medicine. It has been amply demonstrated that certain maladies which have stubbornly resisted the regular medical treatment often yield to psycho-therapeutic methods (mind treatment). The time has long since passed when medical science scoffed at the idea of alleviating or entirely removing pain and certain pathological conditions by suggestion in mild cases and hypnotism in more stubborn, deep-seated afflictions.
What is the “Applied Psychology” about which we hear so much nowadays, but the application of the established principles of suggestion to the problems of social life and the affairs of prosaic business? Applied psychology—for a course of ten lessons for which enterprising “leaders of thought” are charging $100—is nothing more or less than hypnotism and suggestion “made plain.” Investigation will readily show that the principles of suggestion are applicable to the affairs of business and social life. But hypnosis and suggestion may also play a sinister part in intellectual, social and political life, and need to be understood as a matter of self-protection.
From what has been said—and I shall adduce abundant proofs in succeeding pages in support of the statements made above—it may be seen that to give a little time and study to the elementary principles of hypnotism and suggestion is not merely a form of diversion, but a measure of self-defense as well as a means of self-improvement, resulting often in improved health, a happier frame of mind, and even worldly success.