Is a hypnotized subject aware of their surroundings?
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. It is not a state of unconsciousness. At the depth of hypnosis typically used in hypnotherapy, and most stage acts, the subject remains consciously aware of their surroundings. Even in deeper states of hypnosis, in which a subject is no longer consciously aware of their surroundings, the subject is not actually “sleeping”. They are just in a very deep, relaxed and suggestible state. They are still subconsciously aware of everything that is being said and everything that is happening around them. They are able to “awaken” and respond to anything in their environment, if they wish to. There are some situations when masking or suppressing conscious awareness of the surroundings (such as the whine and vibration of the dentist’s drill and the smell of burning dental enamel) is both desirable and beneficial to the subject. Here, the subject is choosing to accept suggestions that would permit them to modify, or ignore, their conscious perception
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