History of Hypnosis

You may be wondering where and just how hypnosis began. What role was played in the history of hypnosis by Mesmer, James Braid, Coue, and Erickson? Discover the roots of hypnosis with this brief history of this fascinating subject.

Learn hypnosis free




These are some of the people who have most influenced the development of hypnosis today so they rightfully take a place of prominence in the history of hypnosis.

In fact, with a surging interest in hypnosis today, many practitioners are playing a continuing role is the modern history of hypnosis with creative applications.




1825-1893 Jean Marie Charcot a French neurologist,disagreed with the Nancy School of Hypnotism and contended that hypnosis was simply a manifestation of hysteria. There was bitter rivalry between Charcot and the Nancy group (Liebault and Bernheim). He revived Mesmer’s theory of Animal Magnetism and identified the three stages of trance; lethargy, catalepsy and somnambulism.


1849-1936 Ivan Petrovich Pavlov - Russian psychologist who actually was more focused on the study of the digestive process. He is known primarily for his development of the concept of the conditioned reflex (or Stimulus Response Theory).



1857-1926 Emile Coue, a physician who plays a large role in the history of hypnosis, he formulated the Laws of Suggestion. He is also known for encouraging his patients to say to themselves 20-30 times a night before going to sleep; "Everyday in every way, I am getting better and better."


Coue’s Laws of Suggestion

The Law of Concentrated Attention

" Whenever attention is concentrated on an idea over and over again, it spontaneously tends to realise itself"

The Law of Reverse Action

"The harder one tries to do something, the less chance one has of success"

The Law of Dominant Effect

"A stronger emotion tends to replace a weaker one"


Freud was considered a poor hypnotist given his paternal manner. However, his clients often went into trance and he often, unknowingly, performed non-verbal inductions when he would place his hand on his patient’s head to signify the Doctor dominant, patient submissive roles. Because of his early dismissal of hypnosis in favour of psychoanalysis, hypnosis was almost totally ignored.

1875-1961 Carl Jung, a student and colleague of Freud’s, rejected Freud’s psychoanalytical approach and developed his own interests. He developed the concept of the collective unconscious and archetypes.



Taking a predominant place in the history of hypnosis is much admired and respected Dr. Milton Erickson.


He was a colourful character and has immensely influenced the practice of contemporary hypnotherapy, and its official acceptance by the AMA. His work, combined with the work of Satir and Perls, was the basis for Bandler and Grinder’s Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

As mentioned above, many modern hypnotherapists are furthering knowledge so quickly by their creative use of their therapy that the history of hypnosis grows yearly.

If you find this subject as fascinating as I do, you may want to check out how to learn more about it here. Just click on the banner and you'll see how far the world of hypnosis has grown from the early days of it's history.

Self hypnosis audio from hypnosis downloads.com

From History of Hypnosis; return to Hypnosis

You are at History of Hypnosis : Return to Homepage