| Anton Chevreul, during the eighteenth century | | | | successful hypnosis sessions. |
| was the first to discover that information in | | | | |
| the subconscious mind could be uncovered | | | | What follows is a script for the Chevreul's |
| using a pendulum. | | | | pendulum suggestibility test |
| | | | |
| The process of using the pendulum, which | | | | This is a pendulum and it is used as a test |
| should be part of any hypnosis training | | | | for concentration. The ability to use |
| program, allows the subconscious mind to | | | | hypnosis requires the ability to concentrate. |
| create minute movements which are magnified | | | | |
| by the pendulum. This ability to make | | | | So, please stand up and hold the end of the |
| muscular movement without conscious effort is | | | | chain in your finger tips. Now hold it |
| called "ideomotion." | | | | directly over the center of the diagram in |
| | | | front of you, right over the center point. |
| As a suggestibility test, a client is | | | | |
| instructed to concentrate and hold the | | | | Now as you concentrate and follow these |
| pendulum over the center of a figure that | | | | simple instructions, the pendulum will begin |
| consists of + over a circle (see figure). | | | | to swing back and forth. Just allow your eyes |
| While doing this, she is instructed to look | | | | to go back and forth across the diagram, left |
| either up and down or back and forth over the | | | | to right, left to right and back and forth. |
| figure, and to think in the same way, up and | | | | |
| down or back and forth. She will most likely | | | | Move your eyes back and forth across the |
| find that in a few seconds up to a minute, | | | | chart from right to left and back and forth. |
| the pendulum will move in just the direction | | | | |
| that she has been thinking, through no | | | | (Continue until the pendulum moves back and |
| conscious effort of her own. | | | | forth across the diagram and then suggest up |
| | | | and down movement.) |
| This is one of the easiest "tests" to provide | | | | |
| a potential client. And since the vast | | | | Good! Now think up and down, up and down and |
| majority of individuals will easily manifest | | | | up and down. Now the pendulum begins to move |
| movement in the pendulum, it really serves | | | | up and down, up and down. Now it moves up |
| more as a convincer than a test. | | | | and down. |
| | | | |
| This test is considered to be a permissive | | | | (Continue until the pendulum moves up and |
| test. If your client passes this test it | | | | down across the diagram. You may also suggest |
| provides you with evidence that she would | | | | that the pendulum moves in a circular motion |
| benefit from a permissive approach. However, | | | | above the diagram. Many clients will do |
| if you instruct the individual in a more | | | | better on this test when it is first |
| direct and domineering way when doing the | | | | demonstrated by the hypnotherapist.) |
| Chevreul's Pendulum test, it could be called | | | | |
| a directive test. So, you need to be aware of | | | | When a client performs satisfactorily when |
| how you are conducting the test. This is true | | | | given this test you have determined that this |
| of all of the suggestibility tests given by | | | | individual is at least to some degree |
| hypnotists. Generally, this test can be given | | | | suggestible and compliant enough to work with |
| in either a permissive or authoritarian | | | | in a hypnosis session. However, it should be |
| manner, even though it was originally thought | | | | noted that experts differ on the value of |
| to be a test for either a permissive or | | | | using suggestibility tests, because if not |
| passive approach. | | | | done properly, and a client is allowed to |
| | | | fail a test then it can decrease his or her |
| Only a highly resistant client will find they | | | | confidence in your ability to be hypnotized, |
| are unable to make the pendulum move. And, as | | | | and it is like I always say, "Hypnosis is a |
| Gerald F. Kein says, resistance equals fear. | | | | confidence game, if you lose their |
| So, it is a clue that you must ensure that | | | | confidence, you will have no game." By this I |
| you have done your very best to remove any | | | | mean that the client who is confident in his |
| fears or misconceptions that your client may | | | | or her ability to be hypnotized makes a much |
| have about hypnosis. This is why a good | | | | better subject than one who does not have |
| hypnosis pre-talk is essential to conducting | | | | that kind of confidence. |