Post Hypnotic Suggesstion

Post hypnotic suggestion and conditioning:
Acts carried out after the termination of hypnosis in response to a specific suggestion are called post hypnotic phenomena. A suggestion given during hypnosis serves as the stimulus, and the act becomes the response. A post hypnotic suggestion and a conditioned reflex serve a similar purpose except that the former is not established by repetitive trial and learning in the classic sense. A post hypnotic act is a complex task because it is related to some degree with the hypnotic induction. It is often carried out as the result of a single session of learning. Moreover, it is not as rapidly extinguished as a conditioned reflex.

West states, “When there occurs a marked narrowing of focus of awareness on a particular aspect of reality, to the exclusion of much of the rest (as in the initiation of hypnotic trance), then sensory data (verbal suggestions) taken in through an open channel (rapport) become effective, because they are not subjected to ordinary reality testing."
It is precisely for this reason that post hypnotic suggestions can be carried out. The degree of effectiveness of a post hypnotic suggestion is based on the degree of suspension of cortical discrimination.

The post hypnotic act, even though carried out long after it is suggested, is probably a spontaneously self-induced replica of the original hypnotic situation. A post hypnotic suggestion may last for minutes to years. During this period, decrement occurs in the quality of the post hypnotic performance. Periodic reinforcement, however, tends to increase its effectiveness, repeated elicitation does not weaken it.

Post hypnotic suggestions are usually followed irrespective of the depth of the hypnosis. Completion depends more upon the nature and the difficulty of the suggested task than upon the depth of the hypnosis. Internal or external factors, of one type or another, can prevent fulfillment. When this happens, profound anxiety may be produced. Therefore, a post hypnotic suggestion should not be of a bizarre nature, but in keeping with the subject’s needs, and goals.

Some subjects develop a complete amnesia for the post hypnotic act and yet readily follow the original hypnotic suggestion. Others can be aware of the original hypnotic suggestion as they carry it out. Still others remember the hypnotic suggestion only after the completion of the act.

Response to post hypnotic suggestions might be compared with the compulsive behavior noted in all of us at times. We know what we are doing, but do not know why. If the setting in which the post hypnotic suggestion occurs is altered, or if the expectant attitudes change between the time of the post hypnotic suggestion, and the time when it is about to be carried out, then deeply hypnotized persons can cancel even the original hypnotic suggestion.

Unless the subject is a volunteer for a stage hypnotist, ridiculous hypnotic suggestions are usually rejected. Most of these volunteers are exhibitionists and seldom mind carrying out hypnotic suggestions that are compatible with their usual or desired behavior. Whether or not a hypnotic suggestion is carried out also depends upon the wishes and the intentions of the subject.

The type and the quality of the operator’s communication also affect the response. When working with a subject in hypnosis, an extraverbal approach such as, “You wouldn’t mind opening the window after you come out of this relaxed state, would you?” minimizes resistance. If the post hypnotic suggestion is not followed, a remark such as, “It’s stuffy inside. I wonder how we can get some fresh air in the room?” is usually effective. A cue of this type often reinforces a post hypnotic suggestion given during hypnosis.

When a post hypnotic suggestion that is not fully in accord with the subject’s desires is carried out, he usually rationalizes the unusual behavior. Purposeless post hypnotic suggestions are as readily forgotten as other instructions given during nonhypnotic levels.

Milton Erickson (vol. 1, The Collected Papers of, pg. 388, 389, 390)
"A post hypnotic act has been found to be one performed by the hypnotic subject after awakening from a trance, in response to hypnotic suggestions given during the trance state, with the execution of the act marked by an absence of any demonstrable conscious awareness in the subject of the underlying cause and motive for his act. The hypnotized subject instructed to execute some act post hypnotically invariably develops spontaneously a hypnotic trance. This trance is usually of brief duration, occurs in direct relation to the performance of the post hypnotic act, and apparently constitutes an essential part of the process of response to, and execution of, the post hypnotic command. To a slight degree, the disappearance of the trance state, or to a much greater degree the completion of the post hypnotic performance, is marked by a brief interval of confusion and disorientation from which the subject quickly recovers by renewed and close attention to the immediate situation. In addition there is usually evidence of an amnesia, either partial or complete, for both the post hypnotic act and the concurrent events arising out of the immediate situation."

The use of having the combination of a visual or kinesthetic cue with a verbal signal, is a “safety measure”. It prevents the possibility of an accidental re-induction. Aside from this safety measure, the double cue acts as a compounding of the anchor, for the post hypnotic act.

In NLP when an anchor is compounded, it becomes stronger and more effective. This double cue strategy also prevents the possibility of the anchor being worn out. For example, if an anchor is placed or emphasized in a manner, or location that gets easily triggered by everyday lifestyle, it builds other associations upon itself, reducing and changing its original intent. By situating the anchor in such a manner that there is the least possible change of accidental triggering, its effectiveness could last indefinitely.

The following are three simple examples of how post hypnotic suggestions can be delivered during therapy. The first example is by Rossi, and the remaining examples are by Milton Erickson.

First example: Rossi
"And the unconscious can continue working on that problem in that special trance when every moment in trance can be equivalent to hours, days, or even years of ordinary clock time. (Pause.) And the interesting thing is that the conscious mind may or may not really understand just what is happening if the unconscious needs to keep it private. You can remain just as you are until the unconscious completes that unit of work and you'll know it's finished when you have that urge to move and stretch and come fully awake again!" (Erickson and Rossi, 1981, p. 133)

Second example: Milton Erickson
"And now, after you awaken, I want a bit of music that you haven't thought about or remembered for a long time to come suddenly into your mind when you see me plainly. And you can begin counting, mentally, silently backward from twenty to one, beginning the count now. (Long pause as X reorients to her body and awakens.)

E: Is it pretty? Can you tell us about it?

X: The music?

E. Yes.

X: It changed.

E: Tell us what the change was.

X: From harp to an orchestra.

E. When was that?

X: When I was seven.

E. Where were you?

X: At home.

E: Who is in the room?

X: Who? My whole family, I think.

E: To your right or left? To my left."

(Erickson and Rossi, 1979, pp. 162 - 163.)

Third Example: Milton Erickson
"Bear in mind that when you first formed an image of the letter "A" it was difficult. But as you continued in school you learned to form mental images of letters and words and pictures with increasing ease until finally all you had to do was to take a look.(Pause). In the matter of experiencing other sensations you learn to recognize cold, warm, muscle tension. In your sleep at night you can dream. In those dreams you can hear you see, you move you have any number of experiences, and as a part of that experience is forgetting that dream after you awaken. An experience of forgetting in itself is an experience that is not alien to anybody."
(Erickson, Rossi and Rossi, 1976, pp. 30-32)

The first example uses a subtle post hypnotic suggestion for the unconscious to continue working on a solution to a particular problem. This type of hypnotic suggestion lends itself well to individuals who are suspected of resisting suggestions.
The second example is a direct post hypnotic suggestion to test her ability to lift amnesia, as well as hypermnesia. Notice that a cue is also suggested for when she would do this. Then Erickson prepares her for an age regression. He asks a question using a childish term, i.e. "Is it pretty?" and with the question, "Who is in the room? And to your left or right?" He accomplishes the age regression as evidence from her responses.
The third example begins with the early learning set and moves to a subtle, but direct post hypnotic suggestion for amnesia.

Although these are simple examples, we hope that readers can figure out how to create their own post hypnotic suggestions.

Here below is the recommended five-step post hypnotic suggestion protocol:
1 ) Trance – Here we begin with the hypnotic induction, and it is suggested that we always offer suggestions as easily as our subjects are able to enter trance.

2 ) New Behaviors – In this step both direct, and indirect hypnotic suggestions are provided for whatever it is that is being worked on. Whether one is working on a belief, value, or whatever, it is recommended that all hypnotic suggestions be directed towards some form of behavior, which can is observable.

3 ) Amnesia – Following the post hypnotic suggestion we begin offering both direct and indirect hypnotic suggestions for amnesia. This may or may not be required since amnesia is often a natural byproduct of hypnosis, but actually working on creating it, is often beneficial so that the client doesn’t spoil the work done through over-analysis. Many methods can be used to create amnesia such as direct, and or indirect hypnotic suggestion of which we can forget, using nested loops to create an overload, or simply changing the subject since, we can’t remember what we just read.

4 ) Trance – Suggestions for trance are offered again which deepens the initial trance, causing a trance within a trance, further increasing the possibility of amnesia, and collapsing the new behavior desired, within the trance, so that it is re-induced whenever the person enters trance in the future.

5 ) Self-Appreciation – This final step is a simple one for well-being which should always be offered in order to end the hypnotic session on a positive note.

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