Towards a Happier Life: A Hypothesis for an Integrated Approach to using Hypnosis, the Subconscious, and Transformational Leadership

              Towards a Happier Life: A Hypothesis for an Integrated Approach to using Hypnosis, the Subconscious, and Transformational Leadership
By Mitchell Anderson
Senior thesis submitted to my Integrated Studies Board
of Utah Valley University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies
Integrated Studies: Leadership and Philosophy
Orem, Utah
Spring 2014 1
Table of Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Subconscious
• Introduction to the Subconscious
• Defining the Levels of Consciousness (Iceberg analogy)
1. Conscious
2. Preconscious
3. Unconscious
• History of the subconscious
1. Freud
2. Jung
3. Contemporary views of the subconscious
• The role of the Subconscious in life
• How to access the unconscious
1. Freudian techniques
i. Hypnosis
ii. Projective Tests
iii. Free Association
iv. Hypnosis
2. Other views
i. Meditation
ii. Prayer and Healing
Hypnosis and Subconscious Integration
Hypnosis
• Concepts Explanation
• Introduction to Hypnosis
• Hypnosis Studies: Improvement in Quality of Life 2
• Further Hypnosis Studies
• Conclusion
The Subconscious and Transformational Leadership Integration
Transformational Leadership
History and definition of transformational leadership
1. How transformational leadership contrasts with transactional leadership
The four I's of transformational leadership
1. Idealized influence
2. Inspirational motivation
3. Intellectual stimulation
4. Individualized consideration
Synthesis
1. How, through the implementation of the 4-I's of transformational leadership, can a leader use transformational leadership to guide and influence others.
2. Authentic Transformational Leadership
Integration: Hypnotherapy, the magic key.
Conclusion
Bibliography
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Abstract
In the paper I discuss the possibility of using self-hypnosis, the subconscious, as well as transformational leadership to create happiness. This paper explores aspects of the subconscious. The reason is that self-hypnosis’ core focus is an attempt to manipulate the unconscious. From here I take a look at the concept of transformational leadership so one can lead others’ to happiness. I conclude by showing how the integration of all of these concepts through hypnotherapy can help one achieve happiness.
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Introduction
Imagine a better life, filled with happiness at every waking moment. You have become a different person, a better and much happier person. Everyone around you has changed to live a far happier life through all of your efforts. What this paper attempts to give you is a better life. It does this via self-hypnosis, transformational leadership, and the subconscious. Transformational leadership is the leadership that revolves around the transformation of oneself and others (Northouse). The subconscious mind refers to human’s mental activities which are just below the surface and can be readily tapped into with little effort. Self-hypnosis works by controlling one’s own subconscious to help lead them towards their desired goals. Hypnotherapy is a tool which allows one to gain insights into their own subconscious and ultimately help them heal. Because it allows people to heal from trauma, it can also be used to transform oneself. Because they are changed, they are more effective role models and leaders. Being a role model is key to transformational leadership. A true transformation thereby occurs by integrating all three of these concepts. Self-hypnosis allows one to use their subconscious to find a happier life, and as a result, help change others’ lives via transformational leadership.
There are many different understandings of what exactly constitutes happiness. For this paper, the Stoic philosophy of happiness is used: more specifically obtaining a virtuous life. The stoic definition of virtue is for an entity to perform well in the function for which it is designed. Therefore, a virtuous human would be one who performs well in that function for which they are designed. (Irvine 35). Because they perform well in the function for which they are designed, the result is that they’re virtuous and therefore happier. This is done by doing 5
the regular things that humans are supposed to do in accordance with nature. Diet, a social life, and even exercise are just some human functions that can lead to happiness. This type of idea was further enhanced by the Roman stoics who pursued tranquility. To them, tranquility is the banishment of negative emotions for positive emotions (Irvine 39). I will argue that the best way to answer the stoic’s pursuit of a tranquil life is through hypnosis. Self-hypnosis uses positive suggestions to bring about a happier life filled with positive emotions. One of the stoic’s strategies to pursue tranquility is in caring for other people. For some of the stoics, taking care of society or filling societal functions was a duty. In the present day, positive psychology uses the term of a meaningful life in connection to society. Martin Seligman, in his book Authentic Happiness describes a meaningful life as, “Using your signature strengths and virtues in the service of something much larger than you are.” He further relates how a full life consists in experiencing positive emotions on a consistent basis and living a meaningful life (Seligman 263). For the purposes of this paper then, transformational leadership fills this role because it aims at transforming others for the better.
There is a controversy regarding hypnosis that needs to be addressed. This controversy is detailed later in this paper, but in summary this controversy came about because of the failures of the prominent hypnosis professionals in the beginning stages of hypnosis. Other issues addressed later will be that hypnosis doesn’t work for everyone, and the lack of credibility of alternative healers. The point, however, that needs to be made clear is that this paper isn’t attempting to prove that hypnosis works all the time, but rather that it can work and as such, merits further research. 6
Subconscious: Introduction to the Subconscious
There are two terms that describe a form of consciousness and these are the subconscious and unconscious. Unconscious refers to the “complex of mental activities within an individual that proceed without his awareness” (“Unconscious”) and as such, it is sometimes viewed as completely inaccessible. The subconscious, on the other hand, is preferable to the unconscious for our purposes because the subconscious is just below the surface and can be readily tapped into with little effort. Michael Miller in his article, “Unconscious or Subconscious” describes the reason for the confusion that resulted from Freud in his earlier days. Freud used the terms unconscious and subconscious interchangeably and eventually stuck with unconscious to prevent confusion. Unfortunately for him, the confusion stuck with the future generations and got worse. In general, the term unconscious is used in the field of psychology. The term subconscious is more popular in the lay community. Miller goes on to state that the exact definition of the terms vary depending on the person who uses them. For the purposes of this paper the term subconscious is used because of our belief that it can be tapped into.
Defining the Levels of Consciousness
Sigmund Freud offers three different levels of consciousness/awareness known as the iceberg analogy or the topographic model (Millon & Lerner 119). The three levels are the conscious, preconscious, and the unconscious (Figure 1). Freud explained the analogy as being like an iceberg (Myers). When we look at a behavior we usually only see the tip of the iceberg which he called the conscious level; this is what the person is most directly aware of such as 7
thoughts, memories, and perceptions, etc. (Pastorino & Doyle-Portillo 581). However the major portion of what influences and makes up an individual is what lies below the surface. These two are the preconscious and the unconscious.
The preconscious is what we could potentially be aware of as well as what we are temporarily (indirectly) aware of. An example is what one had for breakfast that morning. These are also known to be readily accessible and as such easily recalled. “The preconscious contained material that was capable of becoming conscious but was not because attention was not invested in it at that time.” (Millon & Lerner 119)
However, the unconscious level is where the biggest part of the iceberg lies. This is the part where thoughts, perceptions, and impulses lie which we are unaware of at that time. This is the level that hypnosis seeks to access and influence. Freud viewed ones jokes, behavior, and dreams as a way to discover one’s unconscious (Millon & Lerner 120). Freud also viewed the unconscious as housing anxiety-producing material that has been deliberately repressed (Ie. held outside of consciousness for self-protection). Freud had said as seen by Myers “The origin of many neurotic symptoms is held to depend on the conflicts that have been removed from consciousness through a process called repression.” Such as when a child puts himself between his parents that are hugging/kissing in order for him to bond with his mother (Pastorino &
Figure 1: Pastorino, Iceberg Analogy 8
Doyle-Portillo 581), this is as an example of an unconscious behavior. The unconscious, as a result can, in some cases control what we do in our day to day life and can control how we act without us realizing it. Even though we may not be directly aware of these behaviors, they have an extremely powerful influence upon us. This is why hypnosis can be key; it can help in controlling such behaviors whose reasoning is hidden below the surface.
The prominent efforts to interpret the origins of the unconscious activity lean on the psychoanalytic theory developed by Freud and his followers. Many psychoanalytic ideas are seen to be connected to the central nervous system. This is inferred from clinical observations that direct stimulation of the surface of the brain while the patient is conscious brings back long-forgotten memories to the patient’s awareness. Removal of specific parts of the brain seems to abolish retention of specific experiences in the memory (Pastorino & Doyle-Portillo 581).
History of the Subconscious
Humanity has had a variety of theories about the subconscious, and it appears to have started with the supernatural; the subconscious has merely changed names throughout the years as described by Guy Claxton in his book The Wayward Mind. For example, one name of subconscious is “spirit,” among hordes of other names and theories of what it could be throughout history. This isn’t to say that the previous historical people had a true understanding of the subconscious; rather they acknowledge something of its existence. “The unconscious was all the rage in the fashionable salons of mid-nineteenth century London and Paris. Repression and the archetypes were topics of widespread discussion long before Freud 9
and Jung’s successful rebranding of them.” (Claxton 23) In short the concept was known well before Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, but its definition was only wild and confused. It was through the efforts of Freud, Jung, and much of the psychological field that the term became separated from much of the confusion that encompassed it.
Freud contributed to the theory of the unconscious with the iceberg analogy as stated above. According to Freud, the unconscious is filled with many socially unacceptable thoughts, memories, and desires (Myers). His theory for the unconscious is shaped by his concept of repression which is the banishment of such unacceptable items. Though such desires are repressed they can still be readily observed in the behavior and dreams of the individual.
Freud used three interacting systems titled the id, ego, and superego to describe the mind’s processes. The id is the notion of unconscious energy that is used to satisfy basic desires such as survival, reproduction, and aggression, etc. The id seeks immediate satisfaction. The ego is commonly connected to the conscious (the first level of the iceberg analogy) and it seeks to satisfy the id’s desires in a long-term context (i.e. family, happiness, etc.) The ego is where the conscious perceptions, thoughts, judgments, and memories tend to lay. The superego then, is focusing on the ideal life and tends to be guided by moral needs. This is the ideal of how one “ought” to live. With this proposed structure one can readily see the dynamic conflicts within the mind (Myers). Freud also notably had ways in which to access the unconscious (i.e. hypnosis, evaluation of dreams, etc.) which are discussed in more detail later in this paper.
Carl Jung coined the term collective unconscious and personal unconscious which represents a form of the unconscious (Collective Unconscious). He described it as originating in 10
the inherited structure of the brain. To Jung this collective unconscious contains archetypes, or universal primordial images/ideas. The symbolism that Jung noticed (i.e. the symbolism in dreams, myth, etc.) in the collective unconscious is something that is shared across humanity. These items are subject to one’s heredity. Jung described another part of the unconscious as the personal unconscious, which result from one’s own experiences. The personal unconsciousness refers to items which may have at one time been conscious but now are unconscious. For example, memories, which have ultimately been forgotten by the individual or repressed (Myers 140). So in short, collective unconscious is something widespread across humanity and personal unconscious which belongs to the individual.
Modern research has done away with some of the notions that Freud had initially suggested. For instance, Freud believed development of the unconscious occurred mainly in one’s childhood and current research indicates that the unconscious develops throughout a lifetime. Some authors such as Anthony Greenwald suggest abandoning Freud’s notion of the unconscious such as the iceberg theory as well as Freud’s theory of repression that occurs without conscious awareness. In more contemporary views, one thing about the unconscious mind has stuck, and that is the view that we don’t have access to everything that goes on in our minds all at once. The current view is that humans are like a robot in such a way that humanity appears to be “programmed”. The idea is that people tend to fly on autopilot whilst the unconscious does most of the work. So if one changes the unconscious, it changes their behaviors. So, much like a computer, if one cuts out certain parts of the brain, that person will function differently. This doesn’t just include day to day activities such as driving, but it also includes emotions, thoughts, and just about everything that is a part of a person (Myers 567). 11
The Role of the Subconscious in Life
David Eagleman in his book Incognito talks about the influence of the unconscious on the individual and, as a result, their daily life (Eagleman 69-71). He takes the stance that the person functions like a robot. He gives an example of tennis and how in all reality it is simply programming, almost like programming a robot. The person is told to have their racket go lower and so they do that, continuously taking mental notes of the perfect technique needed. Overtime, they build the technique and it becomes a part of their unconscious. Initially the programming is conscious: how to hold the racket, how to follow through, how to stand etc. Overtime, and with much practice, the technique becomes an unconscious behavior. This applies to other human behaviors as well like learning how to of drive or even simply walking. The human unconscious is programmed just like a robot is (Eagleman 167-168).
Drew Westen in, “The Scientific Status of Unconscious Processes: Is Freud Really Dead?" shows how powerful the unconscious programming can be on the life of an individual. In this example, a man known as Mr. R had amazing artistic abilities and yet when he was younger his father mocked him for his art as he tried to perfect his craft (Westen 1086-1087). His father had stated he was “unmanly” for his efforts. Because of this, in later life Mr. R let tremendous opportunities pass him by. For example, he would submit his artwork into art shows but didn’t follow up with phone calls to directors to promote his work. As a result he was unsuccessful and this validated his opinion that his art wasn’t any good. The article goes on to state that the main problem with Mr. R, is that he had been programmed by his father to react to his art in a negative way. Because of this programming, positive appraisals of his art didn’t “feel right” to 12
him. In a sense, he felt like he was betraying his father for accepting positive appraisals. Now obviously the father reacted this way because he too had been programmed to act a certain way. Mr. R’s therapy involved him learning to receive compliments, which he had learned to deflect. The therapy, in which Mr. R was involved, helped “reprogram” him. This goes to show the powerful influence of the unconscious upon the individual’s life and how people can be programmed and reprogrammed like robots.
How to Access the Unconscious (Freudian Techniques)
There are many different ways in which one can access the unconscious. Freud came up with several techniques to access the unconscious: projective tests, free association, dreams, and hypnosis. Hypnosis is discussed in detail later in this paper so it won’t be covered extensively here, save to say that hypnosis revolves around accessing and manipulating the unconscious to one’s own benefit. Projective tests are like taking a psychological X-ray, as Myers puts it. In projective tests, ambiguous pictures are used and the person’s interpretation/stories of the pictures allow certain insights into their personality. In general, a projective test can be viewed as a personality test on one’s unconscious (Myers 564).
Free association is referred to as the method of treatment that was initially developed by Freud. Basically, it involves the patient saying whatever comes to their thoughts without regard to what the ideas may be; vulgar, silly, or even inappropriate, it doesn’t matter. The theory is that associations are controlled by repressed unconscious items; as a result free association can help one rediscover certain memories or even gain insights into the unconscious (Free Association). 13
Freud was also known for being a strong advocate that dreams are a gateway to the unconscious. He believed that through the interpretation of one’s dreams the unconscious can be discovered. He also saw dreams as a way of wish-fulfillment; “content was the fulfillment of a wish, and its motive was a wish” (Grunbaum 80). He also saw dreams as a way to act out non-socially acceptable desires.
How to Access the Unconscious (Other ideas)
Meditation as seen in “Zen Meditation and Access to Information in the Unconscious” is a way in which one can readily access the unconscious. (Strick, Norden, Ritskes, Ruiter, and Dijksterhuis 1476-1481). As stated earlier the capacity of the conscious may be small at times; however the unconscious mind is vast. The authors look at the connection of Zen meditation and the unconscious. Their findings show that after 20 minutes of meditation there is an increase of accessibility to the unconscious; for example memories become clearer and making decisions becomes easier. Meditation, like hypnosis, is a learned skill. The participants in this study were experienced meditators and readers should consider this in evaluating hypnosis.
Prayer is another way of accessing the unconscious mind and it has been used by believers as a strategy to heal the unconscious. This idea is the central thesis of Centering Prayer and the Healing of the Unconscious by Murchadh O Madagain. Prayer, as the author shows, allows a person to gain insight into who they are. The author also goes over different ways to enhance one’s prayers as well as different forms of prayer.
Hypnosis and Subconscious Integration 14
Hypnosis ultimately revolves around accessing and controlling the subconscious. When a person gets into a trance, they are readily in contact with their own subconscious. From there, they make suggestions which are heard by the subconscious and impact their daily life. In a trancelike state, suggestions are made far more effectively than without it. Problems one may have had before in some cases are suddenly fixed or made easy through the efforts of hypnosis controlling the subconscious. Such a transformation of oneself allows them to live the tranquil life described by the stoics.
Hypnosis
Concepts Explanation
Hypnotism and self-hypnotism have their differences; however, they can also have the same results. There is obviously some different implementation for each procedure and the person self-hypnotizing needs to learn the procedure. For the purpose of this essay, the terms hypnosis and self-hypnosis are used interchangeably because they are functionally the same. A hypnotist costs money and must find room for you in their schedule. Yet with self-hypnosis one can do it at any time and any place. If someone wishes to use hypnosis long-term, then it is recommended to use self-hypnosis for the above reasons. This paper only includes the very basics of hypnosis and isn’t a guide on how to use hypnosis, but is rather a discussion on using hypnosis for the goals of happiness.
Introduction to Hypnosis 15
Hypnosis and self-hypnosis provide a vehicle to help one in achieving happiness as well as their dreams. Hypnosis is defined as, “
A trancelike state that resembles sleep but is induced by a person whose suggestions are readily accepted by the subject” (“Hypnosis”). Erik Wright and Beatrice Wright in Clinical Practice of Hypno-Therapy state that the power of hypnosis derives from the view that some human problems can be alleviated using language. However, not all hypnosis procedures involve language and some use creative visualization. The main components of hypnosis are a trance, suggestions, and of course a willing mind. Some of the items that hypnosis can help with are pain, anxiety, depression, success, smoking, even weight loss, as well as many other items.
To hypnotize oneself is very simple and can be done by reading, writing, talking, imagination, or physical actions. This is how a self-hypnosis session usually works by hearing via an audio hypnotic script. A person lies down in their bed and gets comfortable. They turn on the audio device with the pre-selected hypnotic scripts that will usually involve a relaxing visualization scene which puts them in an altered state. The brain waves become less frequent as the person becomes more and more relaxed, then the audio will give them what are called suggestions which facilitate a trance. The trance is the state where the effects of hypnosis can occur. At this point the person being hypnotized listens to the main suggestions which help them achieve their goals. Then, at the end they close off the trance, for example by using a countdown, and relax. As they are in the trance, as well as throughout the hypnosis experience they will experience suggestions. Suggestions are statements made to help the person achieve their goals such as weight loss, improved sleep, cessation of smoking etc. “The fat is dripping off my body,” or, “I’ve never been this happy” are examples of a suggestion. A suggestion can also 16
help facilitate a trance as well and an example is, “You are passing by beautiful oak trees, a peaceful happiness fills your being as you pass by the trees, and as the sun slowly sets you are entering the home of your subconscious, a place of great peace, a place where you take in the suggestions which fill your being with great happiness.” Suggestions that bring about visualization are noted to increase effectiveness.
Hypnosis accesses skills people already have and teaches them to control those skills. (Wright and Wright 1). For instance through self-hypnosis a person could learn to numb a part of their body to pain. Stephenson, in “The Benefits of Self-Hypnosis for Childbirth” shows that one who is trained in self-hypnosis can actually create a “glove anesthesia” where pain is not felt simply through the hypnosis. The author gives a short description: “With a little practice, many women can become adept at this technique, and can create a sensation of numbness by stroking one hand with the other while suggesting, in hypnosis, that the hand will tingle and become numb. The numbness increases with each stroke, and can then be transferred to any part of the body.” (Stephenson 11) So a hypnosis experience is, in a sense, a “controlled placebo” experience.
Hypnosis Studies: Improvement in Quality of Life
The potential of the subconscious has far more power than is currently appreciated and taken advantage of. The following are several studies of hypnosis applied successfully. Stephenson in a study titled “Self-Hypnosis to Promote Quality Sleep,” notes how self-hypnosis can help create beneficial sleep patterns. Long term poor sleep patterns affect one’s physical and psychological health. There are four stages of sleep, with the last and deepest being the 17
most beneficial stage for quality sleep. What prevents one from achieving such a deep sleep is a discord between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic is in charge of the fight or flight response, and the parasympathetic system brings the body into harmony. Commonly, someone with chronic stress will not sleep so readily because of an imbalance of the two systems. Usually one who is under chronic stress has a lot of negative thoughts that enter their mind throughout the day and especially prior to retiring to bed which results in a lack of sleep. Stephenson advocates using hypnosis throughout the day to replace negative suggestions with positive suggestions. This, as well as using visualizations associated with relaxing the body, helps one to get more than adequate quality of sleep. Combined with breathing methods and progressive muscle relaxation self-hypnosis helps one retire to bed in a much better way (Stephenson). What better way towards a happier life then by getting better sleep?
JM Whitewinters writes in, “Impact of Self-Hypnosis in Women on Select Physiologic and Psychological Parameters,” 30 healthy women had a 30-minute session of affirming hypnotic suggestions while sitting in comfortable recliners. The results of the session show a significantly reduced heart rate, respiratory rate, and tension-anxiety. The women also showed increased parasympathetic nervous system activity associated with relaxation during and immediately after the hypnosis experience. The participants who were hypnotized noted that it had been a positive experience. The memories they recalled of the experience were images of the beach, sun, nature, and clouds. They also could remember physical sensations of heaviness, sinking, floating, warmth, cold, and other positive sensations. There were some that had even felt 18
empowered. These are all benefits of hypnosis. The author further writes that hypnosis is an innovative way in which to contribute to stress reduction and health promotion.
Dr. Milton Erickson has harnessed the powers of the human mind over the body and documented it (Short 2006). In this case Erickson reported a 50 year-old women who had Raynaud’s disease. She had extreme pain ulcers. She could sleep for only one or two hours at a time. Erickson taught her how to get into a trance and described technique known as body learnings. Short describes this as visceral abilities accumulated over a lifetime. The suggestion (Hypnotic term) he gave her is that her body learnings would go on throughout the day to be used for her benefit.
At night she was to sit in a trance applying what he had taught her and then call him. That night, her husband called the doctor reporting that his wife got very cold as well as experienced extreme heat and fear. Because of this a physical fatigue resulted in which her husband had to make the call. As a direct result of this the woman was able to sleep peacefully the entire night which hadn’t happened in over 10 years. A few months later, Erickson received a letter in which she thanked him and stated that she had continued to get a full nights rest because her pain subsided. The idea of hypnosis improving sleep is backed up in studies cited in this paper (Butler) (Stephenson).
Erickson states as well when one is convinced of the goodness of mind as well as their body then a new self-efficacy is generated. As a result if they believe they can accomplish something then their self-esteem/self-concept is positively affected as well resulting in a happier individual. In theory getting rid of pain is getting rid of negative emotion; one can then 19
replace the negative emotion with positive emotion. This example shows how much happier someone can be as a result of self-hypnosis (Specifically to remove chronic-pain). This example shows the skills that the human body has that have yet to be tapped into. Hypnosis works by tapping into the power of one’s subconscious to ultimately change the individual.
In the article, “Using Hypnosis for Self-Understanding and Change” by John Butler the author notes that he has used hypnosis to treat several patients such as one with psoriasis. With hypnosis the patient had improved sleep, reduced stress, and increased confidence. In the beginning his skin condition didn’t go away immediately but over time it disappeared. The author mentions that the person ended up leaving after three sessions so obviously a limitation in this study is that the long-term results aren’t readily shown. But the patient was nonetheless generally pleased for the duration of his sessions. Another patient of the author had eczema as well as stress related to it. With hypnosis her eczema disappeared within four days. Limitations of these studies include the fact that both studies involve an individual without a control group, no documentation of improvement of condition except doctor and patient’s testimony, and no follow up with patient.
In “The Quality of Life and Mood Changes in Metastatic Breast Cancer after Training in Self-hypnosis or Johrei: A Short Report,” J Gruzelier studied the effects of self-hypnosis and Johrei on women with cancer. Thirty-seven patients were studied and assigned to either Johrei or self-hypnosis. Johrei is a healing method whereby the practitioner visualizes healing light entering the body and transfers it to the recipient with a spirit of goodwill towards the other person. Johrei includes a philosophy of healing as well as organic eating and the patients who 20
did this type of therapy maintained specific energy levels or in other words, they suffered from less fatigue. Eight of the participants noted that it was a very pleasing experience and that it gave them a renewed confidence/control in their lives. There was a positive change in anxiety levels and a general increase in other positive moods. This study further shows self-hypnosis to be associated with increased energy levels or less fatigue then either Johrei or the control group, as well as stress reduction (J Gruzelier, et al). Though the study was specifically targeted too breast cancer patients, it can be inferred that the improvements in self-confidence achieved through self-hypnosis/Johrei can be made available to the general population as well.
Hypnosis has been noted to be a great anesthesia. Stephenson shows this in “The Benefits of Self-Hypnosis for Childbirth”. The author notes that the primary cause of pain in child-birth is the fear-tension pain syndrome. This syndrome is where fear causes tension which ends up causing pain. Therefore if you eliminate fear, you also eliminate much of the pain. Self-hypnosis works to help break the cycle of fear-tension and pain. A woman named Helena who says that she actually felt pressure as opposed to pain was able to remain calm during her delivery. She used creative imagery, a form of hypnosis to reinforce this. The author argues that with hypnosis, time can be distorted to seem either quicker or slower during the pregnancy and birthing. The same positive effects of hypnosis on pain are shown by other researchers in the field (Abedshahi, Kazem, et al.) (Jensen, Mark, Patterson) (Madden). Even though hypnosis shows promise, these studies also suggest that more research needs to be done before it is recommended, especially in the case of childbirth (Madden). 21
Hypnosis is most notable to help people improve their quality of life. I advocate self-hypnosis because sometimes a person can’t change their specific circumstances, but they can, through hypnosis, change their perspective so that they’re happier. This is incredibly effective for people who have problems like cancer or other problems which won’t go away so easily but can be positively influenced by a more confident attitude. Overall it is shown through these studies that self-hypnosis does a very good job at improving the general quality of life.
Further Hypnosis Studies
Below are further studies showing how hypnosis can improve athletic performance, job satisfaction, and even one’s one self-concept. From here one can infer how hypnosis might work in relation to other fields such as making someone a better singer, teacher, or driver.
Barker in “The Effects of Hypnosis on Self-Efficacy, Affect, and Soccer Performance: A Case Study,” states that a professional soccer player who had low self-efficacy and a negative mood related to his soccer performance was helped by a hypnotic intervention. When one has high self-efficacy they are better able to achieve their goals. Following eight hypnosis sessions, the athlete had greater confidence, self-efficacy, and had a positive attitude. But perhaps more than anything the athlete’ performance improved. The author mentions that he took the time to educate the athlete on hypnosis which helped the athlete become self-sufficient in his use of this important tool. He further mentions that this shouldn’t be underestimated. The author notes the limitations to this study in that there was only one participant and there wasn’t a follow-up study done on the patient. 22
In another study, fifty-nine collegiate soccer players were randomly allocated to either a control group or hypnosis group (Barker). The hypnotic-intervention group used ego-strengthening suggestion while the control group watched edited videos of professional soccer games. The exact procedure/list of ego-strengthening suggestions is not given. The hypnotic-intervention group also used progressive muscle relaxation. The results are as follows: the hypnosis group performed better than the control group suggesting hypnosis can help to improve athletic performance.
The author notes that the athletes weren’t all matched equally in their ability which is a limitation of the study. A small learning effect was observed in the control group as well which did hinder the study’s ability to make decisive claims for the effectiveness of hypnosis. In addition, participants of the hypnotic effect group had a positive attitude about hypnosis sessions which limit the study’s ability to test negative attitudes about hypnosis. One last limitation of the study is that it didn’t test whether or not the people were actually being hypnotized and only recorded resulting behaviors and testimonies. This same limitation is observed in the earlier soccer player case study (Barker). The study didn’t have follow-up assessment periods because the player moved to a different club. However, the player received the “player of the year” award from his teammates which shows that there was an actual improvement over a prolonged period from the point of view of his teammates. As to the study including 50 players, though limitations to the study are undeniable, the question remains, if not for the hypnosis, why did the hypnosis group improve? 23
In the article by Nicole Ruysschaert titled, "(Self) Hypnosis in the Prevention of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue for Caregivers: Theory and Induction” hypnosis is advocated as a strategy of self-care specifically for caregivers. Self-hypnosis, when integrated in strategies of self-care, helps its practitioner set boundaries as well as an increase inner strength and resiliency. Through hypnosis, attitudes can be changed to promote compassion, satisfaction, and job engagement. The results of this study indicate that hypnosis helps prevent employee burnout and compassion fatigue. Connecting these findings to individual lifestyles we see that self-hypnosis will not only help prevent burnout but increase vocation satisfaction as well as general life satisfaction
In an article titled, "Hypnosis-Induced Mental Training Programmes as a Strategy to Improve the Self-Concept of Students," authors HM De Vos and D. A. Louw studied active-alert hypnosis and hypnosis achieved via relaxation. In active-alert hypnosis, motion is correlated with hypnosis: for example pedaling a bike while being hypnotized. In relaxation hypnosis one is hypnotized as they steadily relax: for example sitting on some type of couch while achieving a hypnotic state. The experiment used the two methods of hypnosis to study the effects of hypnosis on self-concept (De Vos). Specifically, a positive correlation between self-concept and hypnosis is found. The author shows that both types of hypnosis, active-alert and relaxation, yielded similar results. This is consistent with results shown in previous studies in this paper. The author goes on to state that self-concept is vital to the functioning of human beings. How one views oneself as well as how one perceives others to view themselves can determine one’s function. 24
Why Isn’t Hypnosis Being Used In Mainstream Society?
There is enough evidence of its effectiveness to ask “Why Isn’t Hypnosis Being Used More Today Given Some of The Testimonials on its Behalf?” Geetha Desai, Santosh K Chaturvedi, and Srinivasa Ramachandra in their article “Hypnotherapy: Fact or Fiction: A Review in Palliative Care and Opinions of Health Professionals,” show that there is a lack of knowledge about hypnosis among health professionals, and this ignorance occurs even among health professionals who suggested hypnotherapy. If professionals who recommended hypnotherapy have little knowledge of it, then how much greater is the ignorance of hypnosis among the general population?
There are many possibilities as to the reason behind the ignorance of hypnosis, but one is that the term hypnosis has collected a lot of controversy in its earlier years. Melissa Beattie-Moss shows this in her article, “Probing Question: Does Hypnosis Work?” One of these early hypnotists was Franz Mesmer who in the 18th century was using hypnotism for healing. Through King Louis XVI’s efforts, Mesmer was found to be “utterly fallacious”. There have also been numerous others that have given it a bad reputation such as charlatans, “snake oil” salesmen, con artists, and in general the incompetent. Hypnosis has evolved since its earlier days and this evolution needs to be taken into consideration. Mainstream psychology is still evaluating hypnosis based on its performance in early days.
Another reason for skepticism is that hypnosis doesn’t work for everyone. Michelle Brandt explains this in “Not Getting Sleepy? Research Explains why Hypnosis Doesn’t Work for All”, by pointing out that everyone is different. David Spiegel MD says that a fourth of the 25
people that he sees aren’t able to be hypnotized. People are complicated and brains are different. People have different cognitive styles and hypnotizability may be a neural trait. The authors based this conclusion on functional as well as structural MRI scans on 12 adults with high hypnotizability and 12 adults with low hypnotizability (Brandt).
A problem in determining the effectiveness of self-hypnosis is that only positive outcomes tend to be reported. Robert T. Carroll who wrote, “Hypnosis” writes, “Not surprisingly, all the anecdotes are positive! Nobody collects examples of failures or tells the world about their incomplete successes.” Save in the case of myself below, failed experiences with hypnosis aren’t recorded very much in this paper, because people don’t tend to record them. The author states that this absence of well documented failures makes it more difficult to separate the placebo effect from actual hypnosis. Because these failures aren’t reported we are prevented from better understanding hypnosis and as a result the hypnosis field suffers greatly. If failures were reported, we could learn from them, we could better understand the reasons why they had failed and as a result better understand how they might’ve succeeded.
When I first began using hypnosis (two years ago) I was uninformed. I share this to demonstrate how failures can be overcome. I dealt with a lot of failures in the beginning and so instead of finishing feeling at peace or happy I was frustrated. However, through time I learned more about the process. My main error was in emphasizing emotion in my scripts. I succeeded when my scripts were simpler. I was successful in using creative visualization to treat my allergies. I had an allergic reaction over a year ago where I sneezed continuously and could hardly catch a breath. It was to the point where it was painful. Because I had practiced 26
hypnosis I attempted to use it on myself and the allergic reaction was gone in an instant; I’ve had many other successes as well. What this shows is that hypnosis is a skill that can be honed. One failure can cause doubt and prevent one from using hypnosis a second time, even though the problem may not be hypnosis itself (Wright). The reasons for failure are many, but one of the most prominent is ignorance.
Dangers and a Possible Limitation of Hypnosis
One possible danger of hypnosis is what’s known as false memory recall. Joel Barkow says in, “Excluding Hypnotically Induced Testimony on the "Hearsay Rationale" that hypnosis is not recommended for hearing in a testimony because the courts do not know if the evidence is factual or if it is a false product of hypnosis. In fact no one will know until such a distinction can be made between a true memory and a false memory (Barkow 651). Carroll shows the danger of practitioners helping people retrieve repressed memories or even in that they remember their “past lives”. A problem with this is that memories have been found to be inaccurate and in some cases fictitious. Furthermore, hypnotism can actually change the perception of memories. One source does cite that “Very rarely, hypnotherapy leads to the development of "false memories" made up by the unconscious mind; these are called confabulations.” (“Hypnotherapy”) On the other hand, hypnosis has been used to help memory. For example, in the Chowchilla kidnapping case a man remembered the kidnappers’ license plate number. Nevertheless altered and false memories can be dangerous (Carroll).
Some are concerned that they could be manipulated through hypnosis without realizing it. It is definitely a notable concern, but for multiple reasons hypnosis doesn’t tend to work this 27
way. The main reason is that people won’t do something under the effects of hypnosis that would stand in stark contrast to their learned moral habits. Another reason a person can’t be manipulated without realizing it is because there is a lack of trust with a hypnotist that they barely know.
Conclusion
Self-hypnosis is recommended as a supplement and not a quick fix until more research can be done to prove its effectiveness. One needs to give self-hypnosis sufficient time to work without expecting immediate results. In the case of the soccer player, he still had to work to get what he desired and didn’t just stop practicing, but found a way to further enhance his soccer performance via hypnosis (Barker). The same stands true of almost every case, save the women with Raynaud’s disease; in each example participants had to work at what they wanted to achieve. In the example involving fifty soccer players there was a hypnosis and a control group; both groups worked hard but the hypnosis group did better demonstrating that hard work alone wasn’t the reason for the improvement. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis definitely did benefit the players in the hypnosis group. So, for now self-hypnosis doesn’t easily allow an extremely overweight person with no prior soccer experience to jump in and be the best soccer player there’s ever been. But with adequate time and work, which are enhanced by self-hypnosis, they could become an effective soccer player.
The studies in this paper show that there is sufficient evidence to promote more research in the field of hypnosis. Specifically they show positive changes in behavior, more happiness, better stress management, pain reduction, improved athletic performance, and 28
improved outlook on life, better sleep, and better self-concept. It doesn’t appear however that hypnosis works for everyone. But, for the moment, it merits more research. Self-hypnosis is a promising avenue for promoting happiness.
The Subconscious and Transformational Leadership Integration
Sarah van Gelder in an interview with Parker J. Palmer states that, “Doctors who are acquainted with their inner landscapes are better able to help their patients draw on the healing power of their own psyches and spirits.” In other words, doctors who have accessed their unconscious and know it are better able to help others in healing. In other words you must know your own subconscious and know who you truly are; why it is that you do the things that you do and for what reasons. As so eloquently stated by Brad Kallenberg, “The truth can be spoken only by someone who is already at home in it; not by someone who still lives in falsehood…” (Minch and Weigel). Such knowing of oneself allows for the transformation of oneself, as well as the people one leads, which can yield to a happier life. This shows the value of the unconscious and transformational leadership. A good leader is aware of what goes on in their inner world, Palmer argues, and he shows that everyone has darkness within themselves. When one can access their unconscious they gain insight and are able to heal themselves so they can lead from a place of light. The key is to lead from those places of light. Palmer states:
We have places of fear inside of us, but we have other places as well- places with names like trust and hope and faith. We can choose to lead from one of those places, to stand on ground that is not riddled with the fault lines of fear, to move toward others from a place of promise instead of anxiety. As we stand in one of those places, fear may 29
remain close at hand and our spirits may still tremble. But now we stand on ground that will support us, ground from which we can lead others toward a more trustworthy, more hopeful, more faithful way of being in the world. (93)
Only as a leader accesses and heals the unconscious can they lead from a place of light. Transformational leadership requires transformation of oneself first before attempting to help others. This is why transformational leadership is so necessary, because one must continuously transform themselves to become a better person, a better leader who is more capable of leading from a place of light. All of this can further allow one to help others live a tranquil life and to find meaning in their own life (Seligman 263).
Transformational Leadership
History and Definition of Transformational Leadership
In Leadership: Theory and Practice, Peter Northouse defines transformational leadership as the transformation of oneself and others. James MacGregor Burns in his article in the Encyclopedia of Leadership notes the valuable distinction between change and transformation. To change is to substitute one thing for another and to exchange from one place to another, this Burns notes is common with transactional leadership (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns 1558). However to transform means for something to change at its very core, to change its structure, such as from the frog, into a prince, and from ordinary people to people who change the world. I am arguing that this kind of change can only occur through accessing the unconscious. 30
A transformational leader taps into motives of the followers by being attentive to them as well as by matching their needs/motives with a common goal. The goal then is to transform the individual and by tapping into their fullest potential in order to take them well beyond who they are. A good example of this is Mohandas Gandhi who raised the hopes of many and as such, others changed him in the process. He did this because the country was in strife (when people are in stress they are more likely to follow). He provided the people with a common vision which tapped into many of the people’s motives such as freedom from oppression. A transformational leader is able to transcend the interests of the individual to the needs of the group. An authentic transformation leader as noted by Northouse is one who is ultimately changed by their leadership experience; such as in the case of Gandhi.
Transformational leadership had its beginnings by James Macgregor Burns whom had solidified exactly what transformational leadership is as well as showing the distinction between transformational and transactional leadership (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns 1558). According to Burns, transformational leadership engages followers to not only get them to achieve something of great significance, but they are also made morally uplifting leaders themselves. Years later in 1985, Bernard Bass picked up on Burn’s work and he made the distinction between transactional and transformational leadership. With these two authors among other people, transformational leadership began to have a greater effect on the leadership field. Bass later added to his definition of transformational leadership that leaders must learn the needs, abilities, and aspirations of followers and as a result the followers become leaders themselves. He also added the four components of leadership which are 31
individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, charismatic/inspiring leadership, and idealized influence. These are addressed in greater detail later on in this paper.
Further additions were made through the later years such as the moral component which Burns had earlier talked about in having the leader be “morally uplifting”. They used the term socialized charismatic as the term which refers to the leader who cares about his or her people’s collective interest and as a result they transform them to higher purposes, not lower. This leads to the conclusion that psychopaths such as Hitler or even Stalin were not transformational because they lacked the morally uplifting, because they had to tear down one group to build another up and didn’t leave more qualified people after they left because they tended to be dead. In most recent history the view has gone from individual leadership to team leadership which is shown as how members of the team see the influence of the team on each member (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns 1560).
Transactional Leadership Distinction
The term transactional leadership was coined by Burns in 1978 (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns 1558). Transactional leaders typically set expectations, goals, and provides recognition/rewards when the task is completed. Transactions are typically set on satisfying both the leader’s self-interest and the interest of his/her followers. Downton further shows classification of transactional leadership as a, “Process of exchange that is analogous to contractual relations in economic life and contingent on the good faith of the participants. Overtime this creates trust and establishes a relationship.” (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns 1558) He also notes that transactions can be either positive or negative transactions that are 32
either reward or coercion based. A coercion based leader tends to be a corrective transactional leader which is noted by Bass to be “management-by-exception”. (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns)
Basically, Bass notes that the idea in transactional leadership is a promised reward will produce the desired behavior. In transactional leadership there is little growth that ends up occurring and its value is in certain short-term situations such as battle. (However any good general wants a growth in their soldiers). However, transformational leadership creates growth in an individual or a group. It is better explained by Bass in that the transformational leader is able to ultimately change its followers’ focus from lower-maintenance desires and needs, such as survival, to higher needs such as personal development. Such a hierarchy of needs is suggested by Abraham Maslow (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burn 1559s). So as such it is transformational leadership that is far more valuable in life and many situations. For with transformational leadership one can readily change their followers for the better and as such reach higher goals. This is the goal of almost every teacher even, to transform their students for the better and as such their students’ lives.
The Four I’s of Transformational Leadership
Bass and Avolio have four key components which they have attached to transformational leadership and since then these components have been known to be the Four I’s of Leadership (Atkinson and Pilgreen). These are idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and lastly individual consideration. The four I’s are can be 33
seen in behaviors. They are vital, valuable and involve encouragement. They help the individual feel part of a greater cause; they are tolerant and process based.
Idealized influence
Idealized influence describes leaders who lead by inspiration. As such they are role models who the followers want to very much be like. Through the use of hypnotherapy, which is talked about later in this paper, one can become the type of role model they wish to be and as such the kind the followers will want to follow after. Idealized influence refers to leaders who are very ethical/moral and can always be counted on to do the right thing. In essence they are the change they wish to see in the world. These kinds of leaders tend to inspire a lot of trust and respect in whatever situation they are in (Northouse). In order to have idealized influence the leader needs to have earned the confidence of their followers which leads to the followers accepting the leader’s vision and evolving with it. Without this said confidence there tends to be a resistance which can come in many forms (Simic 52). Transformational leaders end up, “Making others feel good, making others proud, and earning faith from the subordinate.” (Atkinson and Pilgreen). This results from the leader being a role model (Hall, Johnson, Wysocki, and Kepner). Idealized influence occurs when the leader articulates a vision for his followers and they follow that vision after sufficient motivation. An example of this would be Nelson Mandela who was viewed to have high moral standards and had a vision for South Africa that completely revolutionized the way South Africa was governed. This is a great example of idealized influence and it transformed a nation (Northouse). 34
Idealized influence tends to be measured by two components: the attributional component and behavioral component. The attributional component refers to the attributions of the leader which and are based on the followers’ views of the leader. The behavioral component refers to the followers’ perception of their leader’s behavior (Northouse).
Inspirational Motivation
The next component is called inspiration or inspirational motivation. This happens when followers are inspired through motivation to the vision of the leader/organization. John Baldoni in his book, Great Motivation: Secrets of Great Leaders, clarifies the value of motivation on inspiration, “Motivation really comes down to inspiration. Since motivation comes from within, it is a form of self-inspiration. This process is nurtured by watching others achieve their goals. Most often it is developed by following the example of leaders who do the right thing for people, communicate frequently, empower vigorously, coach regularly, and sacrifice for others.” One way in which one could use hypnosis and inspirational motivation together is through the use of empowering suggestions such as, “You’re a great worker,” or even, “You are all great and you all make this a peaceful place to be.” (Baldoni 9) Continuously telling someone something like this will help reverse negative suggestions they may give themselves and if combined with a hypnotic trance it will help them towards a better path.
This results in people being motivated and even inspired to work. This kind of leadership provides meaning in people’s work. The leader helps people envision a better future for everyone involved and this can be done by providing clear expectations that followers want to meet (Bass and Avolio 3). Some common ways in which the leader inspires is by using 35
symbols or even emotional appeals that focus followers on the leader’s vision which will allow them to achieve more than each individual would in their own self-interest. An example of this may be some kind of king who is able to unite several kingdoms to repel an invading enemy (Northouse). The leader as such is able to inspire the various kingdoms towards a common vision such as freedom and through their combined efforts they are able to ultimately do much better then they could’ve done otherwise.
Intellectual Stimulation
Intellectual stimulation is characterized by the leader who causes the followers to be more creative or innovative, challenges the followers’ beliefs, and even their own. The goal of this type of leadership is to invite the followers to think things out on their own and even engage in problem-solving (Northouse). As a value of transformational leadership, intellectual stimulation characterizes those leaders who are prepared to challenge to their own beliefs so that they too can grow. Intellectual stimulation increases the individual’s awareness of problems at hand through new ideas/perspectives which is evidence of a changed individual. Intellectual stimulation creates new leaders (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns). The old notion of leadership is expressed in the phrase “Do what I say;” intellectual stimulation encourages a new notion of leadership which encourages independent thought.
Individualized Consideration
Individualized consideration is an organization with a supportive climate. This is a leader who listens and helps followers achieve their goals (Northouse). An example of this would be a 36
psychologist, coach, or even an advisor who helps a student in writing a paper. This dimension of transformational leadership assists individuals by providing development opportunities. It allows for the leader and followers to develop a better relationship and builds the self-confidence of the follower.
A distinction needs to be made, however, between consideration and individual consideration. People who are considerate are simply more attuned to the needs of others. Whereas individual consideration is being attuned to the needs of the individual in order to elevate them to even higher levels. Individualized consideration takes a special interest in their followers; in order for the leader to help someone transform they must know that person’s needs, capabilities, desires, and other key parts of the individual to help them become leaders as well. This part of transformational leadership helps leaders refocus the individual from lower-maintenance needs to higher-level self-actualization needs (Goethals, Sorenson, and Burns 1559).
Synthesis
How a Leader Can Implement the 4 I’s to Guide and Influence Others.
So to reiterate, the four components of transformational leadership are idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. All aspects are vital to leadership, and the transformation of both the leader and the followers. In this section I will focus specifically on the implementation of the four I’s. Bass notes three key facets helpful in applying the four I’s; they are culture, communication, and empowerment (Bass & Avolio 44-46). 37
Transformational leadership can occur at and across all levels of an organization. Bass uses the term indirect leadership to describe this and gives the example of a CEO who has no contact with a factory worker and yet can have a vital influence on helping that person change through culture. A transformational leader creates and uses culture to help transform others. There are many ways in which a leader can do this such as stories, rituals, symbols, logos, mottos, and uniforms. Culture helps to set a vision for the followers so that they can be ultimately changed. Bass uses the example of a junior officer who with an act of bravery inspires others to greatness even from a distance. Another example that shows how the leader doesn’t need to be in any contact with the followers to inspire them, is someone such as Michael Jordan. He may not have any contact with someone and yet as the young person reads Michael Jordan’s story of being an underdog, it may help him rise to become a basketball professional as well.
The second facet in implementing the four I’s is communication; specifically it is how the leader communicates his vision and inspires others. Slogans, symbols, and even pep talks are examples of communication. For example using the slogan “Everyone a Leader” inspires, helps others change, and requires no contact with employees. Another great way of communicating a vision or transformation is simply being a role model. The CEO caught helping the lowly janitor clean up the bathroom or giving advice to a new employee is a great example. This CEO is modeling kindness through nonverbal communication to help others transform.
The last aspect the author cites is empowerment which can be accomplished by sharing power throughout the organization or team. What this allows the leader to do is to give the 38
team a sense of power which helps to change their internal beliefs about themselves and others. There are other ways in which the leader can empower as well such as providing emotional support, giving positive speeches, teaching, inspiring visions, or even helping in times of need. Empowering understands that you don’t tear someone down but you build them up. For without the development of the followers there is no transformation that occurs.
I have just reviewed three facets central to implementing the four I’s and there are many others. Simic notes the following attributes that can also be used: creativity, team orientation, appreciation of others, teaching, responsibility, and recognition. In the creativity aspect it is noted that the leader must be willing to accept the advice of the followers as well as inspiring their ideas.
Authentic Transformational Leadership
In Authentic transformational leadership the leader not only helps to transform the followers, but he or she is also transformed. This authentic transformation of the leader is central to my thesis. Earlier it was shown that Gandhi was transformed by his leadership experience and as Northouse shows, this is an excellent example of what is known as authentic transformational leadership. The reason is that not only was the nation changed, but so was Gandhi, which fulfills the requirements of being an authentic transformational leader. However, in a more common day-to-day example one can look at the role of teachers. It is said that the goal of teachers is to learn just as much, if not more than their students. Because of this they are transformed as well.
Integration: Hypnotherapy, the magic key. 39
Hypnotherapy shows the integration of hypnosis, the subconscious and transformational leadership. Hypnotherapy promises the transformation of one’s self. It can be used to treat a wide array of conditions such as smoking, depression, or even anger issues, etc. Hypnotherapy can also be taught to children as shown by Carolyn Lorenz, Neda Yousif, and Kyla Boyse in their article, “Pediatric Hypnotherapy: Hypnosis Helping Kids”. The authors recommend that a child who needs to learn hypnotherapy should be in contact with a pediatric hypnotherapist who can help them as well as teach them self-hypnosis procedures made specifically for children.
Assen Alladin shows how cognitive hypnotherapy can be used to treat depression in the article, “Evidence-Based Cognitive Hypnotherapy for Depression”. Hypnosis is essential to the success of hypnotherapy (Alladin 246). He recommends the use of ego-strengthening hypnotic suggestions such as, “Everyday my life is growing happier and more peaceful, and I’m truly being transformed.” He also recommends the use of post-hypnotic suggestions to counteract the negative suggestions such as that depressed people daily give themselves, for example, “This is hopeless.” In the self-hypnosis session the suggestion is changed to, “I’m going to deal with things differently, I have control over my life, and I’m resolving it!” This allows positive suggestions to take the place of negative suggestions. However, in some cases the issues are so deep seeded that it’s hard for the person to change; in these cases one needs to resort to methods that delve further into the unconscious. In one of his cases he used hypnotherapy on a woman to uncover the reason behind her lack of trust in men which resulted in depression. Through hypnosis one can expand their awareness of certain problems and then amplify that awareness. An example of hypnosis expanding awareness is, “As you relax, you feel the feeling 40
growing clearer...” Following this, they amplify that feeling, “Now I am going to count slowly from one to five…by the time I reach five you will have an awareness of where that feeling comes from...” Through deep regression hypnotherapy Alladin helped the woman uncover the reason behind her lack of trust; it was because one of her favorite uncles had raped her when she was seven. After discovering the problem, one can ultimately edit or even delete that “unconscious” file which tells her she can’t trust all men. Alladin’s patient can change her internal script from all men are bad to, “I’m changing my belief, not all men are bad, that was only my uncle.” With effort, one can change their subconscious belief via hypnotherapy, (Alladin). However Thomas Dowd in, “Cognitive Therapy and Hypnotherapy: A Cognitive-Developmental Approach” says it is not a “quick fix” (Dowd 117). The curing of one’s conditions or transformation of oneself which hypnotherapy tries to achieve takes practice, creativity, and obviously the learning of self-hypnosis. Ultimately, it can be seen how in due time one can be entirely transformed from hypnotherapy.
The point is that after hypnotherapy, after the transformation of oneself, one can more effectively lead other people for many different reasons. A key component of transformational leadership is the power of leader as role model to inspire people. Through hypnotherapy one can ultimately transform themselves and as such become a far greater role model. Through being a role model a leader can ultimately help others transform with little effort on the leader’s part. Thereby they use the concept of idealized influence. However, sometimes being a role model isn’t enough; positive suggestions and constant encouragement are also necessary. I am arguing that transformational leaders can be more effective if they teach their followers hypnosis or use hypnotherapy themselves. To further help others transform it is 41
recommended to teach people self-hypnosis so that they can transform their own lives. This can be easily done with one person teaching a number of people in a classroom setting or even by reading select literature. These skills will give them control of their lives, thereby empowering them (Alladin 250). True transformation requires accessing the unconscious which can be easily done through hypnosis.
Thus through hypnosis, the unconscious, and the use of transformational leadership, others can be changed for the better. These three elements cooperate very well together, for they facilitate transformation at the very core of the leader and follower that transformational leadership alone cannot do. I contend that transformational leadership suffers greatly without accessing the subconscious and hypnosis because of how much of an asset they truly are. How can someone transform another without the unconscious? It simply won’t happen! The unconscious is the core of an individual and that is what transformational leadership is focused on, transforming the very core of who someone is to be a far greater person.
However, one danger with helping others is that there is always the possibility of burnout. Such a danger can have a higher chance of occurring if the person doesn’t truly desire to help others. However, if one leads from a place of light, such as love it, can help one to really want to help others continuously and as such reduce some of the risk of burnout. In the Ruysschaert study discussed earlier the author shows how hypnosis can be used to help combat compassion fatigue as the author calls it. It is found that self-hypnosis helped to improve employee resilience to compassion fatigue and helped the employees have an increased joy in their field (159). 42
Conclusion
The main task then is to use hypnotherapy to help one change. In this paper hypnotherapy is the result of the subconscious and hypnosis acting together to ultimately transform the individual. Because of this, they are better and happier people. Once they have changed themselves, they go about helping others transform by being effective role models and leaders via transformational leadership. Through the integration of the subconscious, hypnosis, and transformational leadership; a tranquil life is created for all who are involved. Thereby, a dream becomes reality.
Regardless of your choice on whether or not to use self-hypnosis to improve your life, I encourage you to invest in your own life to change it for the better; a life in which you are a different person, one who is happier and can tackle the challenges of life in a greater way. Make life worth living for, everyday becoming a new and better day. Change the very essence of who you are on the inside for the better. Because of this you won’t have to “fight” to do what’s right, but rather it will just come naturally. Through this, help others change, even those who surround you. For they need someone to help them, just as you need someone to help you. For these then, are the goals worth living for, leading people to a better life. In this journey which you undertake, you will find yourself and realize how truly great you are. Live a life worth living.
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