Hypnosis - (Blackwell Brief Histories of Psychology) by Judith Pintar & Steven Jay Lynn (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

• examines the social and cultural contexts of the theories, development, and practice of hypnosis
• crosses disciplinary boundaries to explain current advances and controversies in hypnosis
• explores shifting beliefs about the nature of hypnosis
• investigates references to the apparent power of hypnosis over memory and personal identity

From the Back Cover

"Hypnosis is the 'mother' of psychotherapy. Pintar and Lynn have done a great service to the field. Hypnosis: A Brief History is a comprehensive, well-organized academic treatise that surveys the development of hypnosis form its birth to its contemporary maturity. Destined to be a classic, it is a welcome addition to the library of students of hypnosis."
Jeffrery K. Zeig, PhD, The Milton H. Erickson Foundation

"The fascination of hypnosis, the shits in its use and understanding over time, and the importance of scientific and societal influence are all captured in this engaging and accessible book. The intrigue of hypnosis and the passion of those who seek to understand it are hallmarks of this brief history"
Kevin M. McConkey, The University of Newcastle, Australia

"Pintar and Lynn's book is simply superb. In one convenient package truths about hypnosis are revealed and myths are exposed. Readers come to understand how hypnosis is useful for treating pain, anxiety, and other medical and psychological conditions. But, we also learn, it can be dangerous in the hands of incompetent or unknowledgeable practitioners, especially when it lead to the production of pseudomemories. The winding and complicated history of the study of hypnosis is not only fascinating in its own right, but it serves as a starting point for glimpsing the future of this captivating phenomenon."
Elizabeth Loftus, University of California, Irvine

Throughout its long history, hypnosis has been employed not only as a medical and psychotherapeutic tool, but also as a spiritual practice and an enduring form of entertainment. Theories about hypnosis, as well as popular ideas about its nature, have been repeatedly champoined, rejected, --and revived-and in the process have continuously contradicted, influenced, and fed back into one another. Hypnosis: A Brief History examines the social and cultural contexts of the theories, development, and practice of hypnosis, weaving together three narratives: the story of hypnosis as an array of contradictory theories, a set of controversial techniques, and a jumble of colorful ideas unfolding in the popular imagination. This concise and entertaining book crosses disciplinary boundaries to explain current advances and controversies surrounding the use of hypnosis through an exploration of the history of its development.

About the Author

Judith Pintar is ahistorical sociologist whose work focuses on trauma and mental illness. She is a research associate in the Department of Sociology and the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has written numerous book chapters and articles and is the author of two books.

Steven Jay Lynn is a leading clinical psychologist and hypnosis expert. He is a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Binghamton, and the author of 14 books and more than 250 articles and chapters. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Discovery Channel, and Science News.