The state is called hypnosis, and a person who can do this for someone else is a hypnotist. The word hypnotize comes from the Greek hypnotikos, "inclined to sleep or putting to sleep," and popular ideas of hypnosis reflect a kind of half-asleep state.
Michael Fine sentenced to 12 yrs in prison for multiple counts of kidnapping w/sexual motivation spec. It was a routine visit to the lawyer's office following her divorce.
Myth: People can't lie when they're hypnotized Hypnotism isn't a truth serum. Although you're more open to suggestion during hypnotism, you still have free will and moral judgment. No one can make you say anything — lie or not — that you don't want to say.
It is conceivable that someone who hypnotizes you without your consent may be guilty of a crime. You should report the conduct to the police and or district attorney/prosecutor in your area.
Shirley (1982) the California Supreme Court ruled, however, that any information obtained or subject matter covered under hypnosis is not admissible as evidence, although hypnosis may be used to obtain leads that may assist in the securing of additional admissible evidence.
In certain limited cases, the use of forensic hypnosis can be an aid in the investigative process. Witnesses to crimes have been able to recall certain facets of the crime while in a hypnotic state that they had not remembered without hypnosis.
So whilst you can't erase bad memories or forget someone with hypnotherapy, hypnotherapy can help you change the specific thought, emotion, and behavioural associations that are connected to the memory. In other words, hypnotherapy can change “how you remember” the memory, not the “raw” memory itself.
Contrary to popular belief, you can't be hypnotised into doing things against your will. You can't be forced into a hypnotic state either. Instead, you allow yourself to be hypnotised. It is a voluntary altering of your own consciousness, and you are always in control.
Hypnosis isn't a sinister way to control people; in fact, it's impossible to hypnotize someone into doing something they don't want to do.
Muscular relaxation is often most noticeable in the facial expression. A person in hypnosis has a smooth, ironed out expression on the face, which usually goes along with a vacant look in the eyes.
So is it possible for someone to be in hypnosis without being relaxed, and without having their eyes closed? Yes. That's because hypnosis, especially conversational hypnosis, is a normal part of life.
The hypnosis practitioner serves as a guide and a teacher of sorts, helping you become more comfortable with the process of hypnosis. Ultimately, the only one that can “hypnotize” you, is YOU. Hypnosis is very safe because you are always in control.