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