hypnosis
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hypnotism \Hyp"no*tism\, n. [Gr. ? sleep: cf. F. hypnotisme.]
1. A form of sleep or trance, in some respects resembling
somnambulism, but brought on by artificial means, in which
there is an unusual suspension of some powers, and an
unusual activity of others, especially a heightened
susceptibility to suggestion. It is induced by an action
upon the nerves, through the medium of the senses, by
causing the subject to gaze steadily at a very bright
object held before the eyes, or on an oscillating object,
or by pressure upon certain points of the surface of the
body, usually accompanied by the speaking of the hypnotist
in quiet soothing tones. Called also {hypnosis}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. The science which deals with the induction and properties
of the hypnotic state.
[PJC]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mesmerism \Mes"mer*ism\, n. [From Mesmer, who first brought it
into notice at Vienna, about 1775: cf. F. mesm['e]risme.]
An earlier name for {hypnosis} or {hypnotism}, the art of
inducing an extraordinary or abnormal state of the nervous
system, in which the actor claims to control the actions, and
communicate directly with the mind, of the recipient. It is
believed to be a state between sleep and wakefulness, in
which a person is more susceptible to suggestion than when
awake. See {Animal magnetism}, under {Magnetism}.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
88 Moby Thesaurus words for "hypnosis":
Arica movement, Erhard Seminars Training, New Consciousness,
Pentothal interview, SAT, T-group, animal hypnosis,
assertiveness training, autohypnosis, autosuggestion,
behavior modification, behavior therapy, bioenergetics,
biofeedback, cataleptic hypnosis, confrontation therapy,
conjoint therapy, consciousness raising, counseling, dharana,
dhyana, directive therapy, ecstasis, ecstasy, encounter therapy,
est, family training, feminist therapy, gestalt therapy,
group psychotherapy, group relations training,
group sensitivity training, group therapy, humanistic therapy,
hypnoanalysis, hypnotherapy, hypnotic sleep, hypnotic suggestion,
hypnotism, lethargic hypnosis, marathon, marriage encounter,
mind cure, narcoanalysis, narcohypnosis, narcosynthesis,
narcotherapy, nondirective therapy, occupational therapy,
pastoral counseling, play therapy, posthypnotic suggestion,
power of suggestion, primal therapy, prolonged narcosis,
psychodrama, psychological counseling, psychosurgery,
psychosynthesis, psychotherapeutics, psychotherapy,
radical therapy, rapture, rational-emotive therapy,
reality therapy, recreational therapy, regression therapy,
release therapy, samadhi, scream therapy, self-hypnosis,
self-suggestion, sensitivity training, sensory awareness training,
sleep treatment, somnambulistic hypnosis, somnipathy,
suggestibility, suggestion therapy, suggestionism,
supportive therapy, training group, trance, transactional analysis,
transcendental meditation, transpersonal therapy,
vocational therapy, yoga trance
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