Hypnosis① refers to a complex phenomenon that cannot even be described in a few words and that is still harder to define. Hypnosis is used by medical men to study their patients’ problems and to relieve② symptoms such as pain.
Most workers in the field believe that one of every three or four persons can， under appropriate conditions， manifest hypnotic③ phenomenon. Hypnotizability doesn’t depend on sex， age， intelligence， personality type， emotional disease， or anything else so far investigated.
All classical induction techniques utilize④ eyelid closure. The subject (or patient) is instructed to gaze at the hypnotist’s eye， his finger， a spot on the wall or ceiling， or a shiny or whirling object， while being told over and over again in a monotonous⑤ tone， preferably in accordance with the patient’s respiratory rhythm： Breathe deeply but comfortably， deeply and comfortably， as your eyes grow heavier and heavier， and you grow sleepier， sleepier， sleepier still. Your eyes are so heavy， they feel they must close.
The hypnotist may add， “You can close them now”， or he may say “They are closing， closing”. If induction is successful and the subject is challenged and tries to open his eyes， he cannot. He moves the wrong muscles. He has， it should be noted， been instructed to grow relaxed or to sleep. With eyes closed， he seems asleep.
The stage magician and the medical hypnotist⑥ alike use this technique or some variation of it.
① hypnosisn. 催眠状态
② relievevt. 缓和，减轻；解除；使宽慰，使放心
③ hypnoticadj. 催眠的 n. 安眠药
④ utilizevt. 【书】利用
⑤ monotonousadj. (声音)单调的，无抑扬顿挫的；无变化的；无聊的
⑥ hypnotistn. 施催眠术的人
催眠术
催眠术是很复杂的，不能用一两句话解释清楚，更难以下定义。医学界人士采用催眠术来研究病情，减轻症状(如疼痛)。
这个领域的大多数研究人员都认为，在适当的条件下，每3个或4个人中就有1个人可以被催眠。催眠，就现在的研究来看，与性别、年龄、智力、人格类型、情感，疾病等等都无关。
所有传统的诱导方法都是使人闭上眼睛。催眠者叫病人盯住他的眼睛、手指、天花板或墙上的某点，或者一个旋转或发光的物体；同时最好再配合病人的呼吸节奏，用不变的声调一遍又一遍地告知患者：非常舒适地深呼吸，深呼吸，感觉很舒适，你的眼皮变得越来越重，你觉得越来越困。你的眼皮太重了，你不得不闭上双眼。
催眠者或许还会补充说：“你可以闭上眼睛了。”或“你的眼睛慢慢地闭上了”。如果这种诱导成功了，而病人试图睁开眼睛的话，他是睁不开的。他动用了错误的肌肉。应当注意的是，他被告知放松和入睡，而他的眼睛闭上了，看上去像睡着了一般。
舞台上的魔术师和医学上的催眠师都使用这种方法或其他类似的方法。
