What's the Difference Between Covert Hypnosis and Overt Hypnosis?

Overt hypnosis, or conventional hypnosis, utilizes a situation in which the subject of the hypnosis absolutely knows he or she is being hypnotized. For example, overt hypnosis is often used to help people break bad habits, such as smoking or overeating. It can also be used very effectively as a means to overcome phobias like fear of spiders, fear of heights, and so on.

With overt hypnosis, a hypnotist has the subject of the hypnosis sit comfortably or lie down in a quiet room, so that he or she can be completely relaxed. The hypnotist skilfully puts the hypnosis subject in a light, trance-like state, whereby he or she can access the subconscious mind more easily, and implant suggestions to help change the bad habit or behaviour into something more desirable.

With covert hypnosis (oftentimes called "conversational hypnosis," as one of its terms), the subject being "hypnotized" has no idea that such a thing is taking place. And unlike overt hypnosis, there is no established "trance-like state" that the subject goes into, from the point of view of the common sense.

Instead, the person practising the covert hypnosis gradually uses techniques to implant ideas or suggestions during conversation that the subject probably would not have agreed with. Very skilful salespeople, for example, often use covert hypnosis techniques to get subjects to buy their products. Basically, the object of conversational hypnosis or covert hypnosis is to convince someone to do something. In fact, many people have either been subjects of or hypnotist themselves without actually knowing they were engaging in covert hypnosis, which tells you that in fact, it's very easy to learn hypnosis in this way even unconsciously; of course, although, you can also learn techniques so that you can do this consciously.

Steps to covert hypnosis

- Establish rapport

It begins with a "hypnotist" establishing rapport with his or her intended subject. Most often, the "hypnotist" simply agrees with his or her subject on the topic at hand. This causes the subject to relax, which makes him or her much more amenable to suggestion.

- Create confusion

Now, after the "hypnotist" has gotten the subject completely relaxed because rapport has been established, he or she creates confusion. For example, maybe someone has said something to the effect of, "All politicians are crooks." So, during the establishment of rapport, the "hypnotist" absolutely agrees: "I absolutely agree. All politicians are crooks."

This confuses the hypnotist's subject, because he or she wasn't expecting absolute, complete agreement. In fact, he or she was expecting at least some hedging ("Well, but you can't mean that ALL politicians are crooks"). By so completely agreeing, the hypnotist has created confusion in the subject.

Now, during this time of confusion, the conversation continues, and the hypnotist can gently say something to the effect of, "Are you SURE all politicians are crooks?" And of course, the subject is going to have to answer something to the effect of, "Well, no, I know that (insert name of politician) wasn't a crook. I didn't mean that."

Now, all of a sudden, the subject of the hypnosis is disagreeing with his or her own original point of view.

- Implant a suggestion

Next, the "hypnotist" gently plants a suggestion, another point of view, that the subject simply must agree with. It doesn't all have to happen in one conversation, either; in fact, doing covert hypnosis on a continuum, from one conversation to the next, is probably one of the most effective ways to completely "hypnotize" a subject without him or her ever knowing it.

That's the difference between overt versus covert hypnosis. With overt hypnosis, both parties (hypnotist and subject) know hypnosis is happening. With covert hypnosis, in fact, neither party may know it's even happening, although it's very possible as well that the "hypnotist" is fully aware of what's going on.

When is each technique best used?

In fact, either overt or covert hypnosis can be used to break bad habits, because the subject is willing to change and really wants to.

In any case anyone can learn covert hypnosis techniques, and it can be very useful in careers like sales.

You can even, for example, use covert hypnosis techniques to get a roommate to break a bad habit, establish better study techniques, and so on.

To study hypnosis you can visit the site of the same author IStartLearinigHypnosys.com, where you can find a link to download a free audio tapes course to begin with learning hypnosis. If you are more interested in the covert hypnosis techniques we suggest you to visit TheMagicOfCovertHypnosis.com.