Mind Control Techniques
Mind control techniques are often
mistakenly considered to be synonomous with the term "brain
washing". While "brain washing" can be considered a form of mind
control, the reverse isn't necessarily so. Also, "Brain washing"
generally implies employing means to influence the thoughts,
desires, or decisions of another person. Mind control techniques
may be used for these purposes, but they are also commonly used as
part of many self-help programs.
Hypnotism in it's purest sense consists of various mind control
techniques. All forms of hypnotism and hypnotherapy seek to gain
control over the subconcious mind first by inducing a
trance-like state of meditative relaxation, and then by implanting
suggestions that bypass consious thought.
The concious mind has a very sophisticated set of defense
mechanisms against suggestion. This is why we can read a magazine
or watch television and not feel a need to jump up and run to
McDonalds everytime we their advertisement or commercial.
Overcoming these defensive mechanisms requires gaining some
control over the mind, either our own, in the case of
self-hypnosis, or someone else's.
Mind control techniques are the basis for all hypnosis. The
phrase itself can be misleading, since it implies some sort of
direct communication. However, some of the factors have nothing to
do with direct communication. For instance, many aspects of a
particular setting, such as lighting and background sounds can
play a part.
The "BITE" Model
Steven Hassan, one of the top experts in the field, created a
model of mind control techniques called the "BITE" model. The
BITE model consists of 4 components, and stands
for Behavior, Information,
Thoughts, and Emotions.
Both Hassan and social psychologist Robert Cialdani, who wrote
the landmark book "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion",
suggest that mind control is possible through the covert
exploitation of the unconscious rules
By controlling the 4 factors of the "BITE" model, it becomes
possible to influence behaviour and action.
Mind control techniques are aptly suited to self-hypnosis and
hypnotherapy. The whole principle of hypnotherapy is to alter the
behaviour and actions of an individual. In the instance of
self-hypnosis, these mind control methods are applied to
oneself.
Using hypnosis to quit smoking, for instance,
requires over-riding of extremely strong habits and addictive
tendencies. Similarly, using hypnosis for
weight loss means exerting control over one's patterns
of over-eating. In fact, overcoming any emotional or psychological
disorder can be considered an act of mind control.
Mind control techniques, like most methods of hypnotism, is
neither inherently good or inherently bad. They are simply very
effective methods over-ride conditioning, and bypass concious
thought and defense mechanisms.
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