Despite more than two centuries of having tacitly recognized its enormous potential utility, the phenomenon of hypnosis has always been commonly regarded with outright Fear and Loathing. How is it possible that something as beneficial to humanity as hypnosis ever came to be viewed in such a horrible manner? I intend to show that the history of hypnotism provides us with the clue to this unfortunate legacy; and I've neither spared anyone's feelings nor pulled any punches in this quest to reveal the shamefully appalling level of incompetence and ignorance that has characterized the (mis)use of this phenomenon since its discovery by Mesmer more than two hundred years ago.

Despite more than two centuries of having tacitly recognized its enormous potential utility, the phenomenon of hypnosis has always been commonly regarded with outright Fear and Loathing. How is it possible that something as beneficial to humanity as hypnosis ever came to be viewed in such a horrible manner? I intend to show that the history of hypnotism provides us with the clue to this unfortunate legacy; and I've neither spared anyone's feelings nor pulled any punches in this quest to reveal the shamefully appalling level of incompetence and ignorance that has characterized the (mis)use of this phenomenon since its discovery by Mesmer more than two hundred years ago.

This unique book offers a comprehensive overview of the history of psychotherapy. The first of two volumes, it traces the roots of psychotherapy in ancient times, through the influence of Freud and Jung up to the events following World War II. The book shows how the history of psychotherapy has evolved over time through different branches and examines the offshoots as they develop. Each part of the book represents a significant period of time or a decade of the 20th century and provides a detailed overview of all significant movements within the history of psychology. The book also shows connections with history and contextualizes each therapeutic paradigm so it can be better understood in a broader social context. The book is the first of its kind to show the parallel evolution of different theories in psychotherapy. It will be essential reading for researchers and students in the fields of clinical psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, the history of medicine and psychology.

Dr. Gauld has written a detailed and scholarly history of the phenomena, practice, and theory of mesmerism, hypnotism, and multiple personality disorders. The book traces the development of mesmerism and hypnotism and those who were influential in its use and acceptance as a scientific method.

Today, hypnotism is recognized as an effective therapeutic tool and its importance is growing. This book shows how hypnotism reached its present status of acceptance, through two centuries of pioneering effort by several fascinating personalities. Special emphasis is placed on the life and work of Dr. Milton H. Erickson, the foremost mid-20th century exponent of hypnotism and the acknowledged father of modern hypnotherapy. This is the first book to provide a thorough narrative and biographical account of hypnotism's progress from 1775 to the present day. In addition to the history of hypnotism from its shamanistic origins to the modern clinical applications of today, this book looks forward to still greater advances in the use of hypnosis for the relieving and blocking of pain, and in enhancing the human immune system.

The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis is the long overdue successor to Fromm and Nash's Contemporary Hypnosis Research (Guilford Press), which has been regarded as the field's authoritative scholarly reference for over 35 years. This new book is a comprehensive summary of where field has been, where it stands today, and its future directions. The volume's lucid and engaging chapters on the scientific background to the field, fully live up to this uncompromising scholarly legacy. In addition, the scope of the book includes 17 clinical chapters which comprehensively describe how hypnosis is best used with patients across a spectrum of disorders and applied settings. Authored by the world's leading practitioners these contributions are sophisticated, inspiring, and richly illustrated with case examples and session transcripts. For postgraduate students, researchers and clinicians, or anyone wanting to understand hypnosis as a form of treatment, this is the starting point. Unequalled in its breadth and quality, The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis is the definitive reference text in the field.

In line with the British Psychological Society's recent recommendations for teaching the history of psychology, this comprehensive undergraduate textbook emphasizes the philosophical, cultural and social elements that influenced psychology's development. The authors demonstrate that psychology is both a human (i.e. psychoanalytic or phenomenological) and natural (i.e. cognitive) science, exploring broad social-historical and philosophical themes such as the role of diverse cultures and women in psychology, and the complex relationship between objectivity and subjectivity in the development of psychological knowledge. The result is a fresh and balanced perspective on what has traditionally been viewed as the collected achievements of a few 'great men'. With a variety of learning features, including case studies, study questions, thought experiments and a glossary, this new textbook encourages students to critically engage with chapter material and analyze themes and topics within a social, historical and philosophical framework.

since the first International Congress for Experimental and Therapeutic Hypnotism in Paris in 1889, there have been several per iods of widespread interest in hypnosis among the professions as well as the lay public, followed by periods of profound neglect. Since the end of World War II, however, we have witnessed not only a strong resurgence of interest in hypnosis throughout the world but also the gradual development of the kind of infrastructure which a field requires to survive and prosper. The burgeoning clinical literature has been matched by a dramatic increase in the amount of systematic research carried out in a wide range of institu tions throughout the world. A tradition of triennial major world congresses has been established, beginning with the 3rd International Congress for Hypnosis and Psychosomatic Medicine in Paris in 1965. These meetings, encouraged and sponsored by the International Society of Hypnosis and its predecessor, the International Society of Clini cal and Experimental Hypnosis, are sponsored by universities and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among scientists and clinicians throughout the world.

A journal of philosophy covering epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, philosophy of logic, and philosophy of mind.