A History of Hypnotism: BMJ Clinical Research May 1993
A History of Hypnotism: BMJ Clinical Research May 1993
A History of Hypnotism: BMJ Clinical Research May 1993
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A History of Hypnotism
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sustained precisely by the act of focusing that does not mean that one cannot think
chronologically on texts and seeking connec- systematically about it and try to make some
tions between them. sense of trends, developing issues, and
Gauld's history is thus bound to appeal emerging technologies.
more to those narrowly interested in past Howe and Wain's collection of essays came
theories and practices of hypnotism than to as a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a "how
those seeking fuller historical understanding to do it" book by futurists for futurists that
of the construction of such theories and scraped together the meagre intellectual
practices. Even so, few are likely to be roots of futures research into one slim volume.
completely mesmerised by a volume weigh- Instead, I was treated to a compilation of
ing in at around a half a million words. It is the Darwin College lectures, delivered in
primarily as a useful reference tool that this Cambridge in 1991 under the title "Predic-
book will deservedly find a place.-ROGER tions." The contributors are eminent scholars
COOTER, senior research officer, Welkcome Unit for the from diverse fields who provide the reader
History of Medicine, University ofManchester with a personal view of predicting the future
that is rooted in their own discipline and
perspective. While some contributors stay
closer to their task than others, all of them
The operator putting his patient into a trance. From provide useful insights into the role and
Sibley's "Key to Physic " (1794) problems ofprediction.
There are four themes that run through
It is very much from this contemporary Predicting the Future several of the contributions. Firstly, the
perspective that Dr Gauld approaches the purpose of prediction reflects the culture in
history of hypnosis. Although he provides a Ed L Howe, A Wain which it is embedded. In the culture of
clear and cogent survey of its chequered Cambridge University Press, ,18.95, pp 195 science, prediction is the ultimate test of
fortunes across the whole of the Westem ISBN 0-521-41323-0 theory. In the culture of religion, prediction
world, his main interest is in the types of is the ultimate test of faith.
techniques that have been employed in the It is impossible to predict the future, but Secondly, prediction is the purview of an
past for inducing hypnotic states, the kinds that has not stopped us from trying. elite that has a clear normative view. A group
of manifestations produced and their applica- Through the ages, oracles, seers, in society is granted or grants itself the right
tions, and the various theories expounded in soothsayers, and charlatans have provided to predict. The basis for the right may be the
explanation. Except for the period from the compelling visions that have sobered, scared, group's ability to interpret comets, chaos
first world war to the 1950s, which is given and seduced us. The term prediction suggests theory, or the complexity of the universe. In
short shrift, Gauld trawls virtually all publi- foresight so clear that the future is crystallised all cases the predictor brings with him or her
cations on the subject, the titles of which fill into a single vision that can be controlled, a world view that colours the prediction.
80 pages of bibliography. Few practices and manipulated, or avoided. Yet, even in an age Even among pure scientists, where you start
practitioners are overlooked, and, commend- of supercomputers and endless databases, we affects where you end up.
ably, attention is paid to the experiences of seem no closer to the dream of prediction Thirdly, prediction is in tension with free
patients. than were the ancients. will. Whether it be the tension between blind
It is thus with authority and precision As practising futurists my colleagues and I faith and individual temptation or the tension
that Gauld is able to document the history spend our time trying to help organisations between economic theory and individual
of hypnotic theories and practices, and to think through their longer term future. Our action, there is a clear confrontation between
correct the historical record at several points. various approaches are a form of applied what is predicted to occur and what indi-
The impression, for example, that the social science aimed at informing decision viduals with free will or leadership, or both,
hypnotic movement simply disintegrated makers and helping them make better will end up actually doing. This is why
after its heyday between the mid-1880s and choices. One cannot predict the future, but predicting the course of society, technology,
the tum of the century is shown to be and the economy is fraught with danger. As
mistaken. More crucial from Gauld's per- Frank Hahn's essay points out with regard to
spective is the case he makes for previous predicting the economic future, one may be
generations of hypnotists not simply defining better off shooting for understanding rather
the phenomenon circularly as a state charac- than prediction.
terised by enhanced responsiveness to Finally, prediction is seduced by the
suggestion. Previous practitioners had under- cutting edge of knowledge. Scores of futures
standings which were sometimes similar to organisations were founded in the late 1960s
those of today's researchers. in the United States, at a time when the
Gauld's approach is not without its pitfalls, quantitative revolution and the computer
however. It often leads him into anachro- were hitting social science. The new analytic
nistic use of language and into inappropriate tools dazzled us with the illusion of predictive
ahistorical evaluations of past "researchers." power. We run the risk of assuming that
More worrying is the presupposition inherent some new intellectual force (like chaos theory)
in such a chronicle: that there actually is will provide us with true predictive tools.
a connected continuous "history" to the Such breakthroughs help improve our
melange of ideas and practices now cate- understanding of the world. But, as was true
gorised as hypnotic. It does not occur to for Newton, Adam Smith, and Einstein,
Gauld that the widely different social new knowledge does not provide perfect
contexts for the production of texts on mes- predictive power. The future hasn't hap-
merism and hypnosis may constitute quite pened yet, so we shall have to wait and see
different histories, rather than different un- what it brings, or go out and create it.-j iAN
foldings of the same one. "A history" of A surprise. Lithograph by H Daumier, 1853. From the MORRISON, president, Institute for the Future,
hypnosis may be a delusion fabricated and book reviewed here California, USA
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