What is the difference between hypnosis and the placebo effect?
Since hypnosis is so difficult to “pin down,” or quantify, this is a difficult question to answer. We know that even though medical associations in both the U.S. and Great Britain acknowledge hypnosis as a valid therapeutic modality, scientists often look with skepticism at treatments that can’t be explained. Some people believe that placebos function in a way that is very similar to hypnosis. This means that the unconscious mind is somehow stimulated by the placebo to respond in a specific way. While this may be true to some extent, there are also some notable differences. Surely you’ve heard of people getting “cured” when they thought they were being given a new drug, only to relapse when they find out it was a sugar pill. Belief is the critical element in such a case. However, you do not have to believe in hypnosis for it to be effective. For hypnosis to work, all that is needed is the genuine desire to achieve a goal and the commitment to be persistent in its achievement. With a pl
