Posted by Estella on August 22, 2006, at 22:23:27
In reply to Re: Confused and update on hypnotist, posted by antigua on August 21, 2006, at 9:22:00
Hey. Sorry I haven't written before. I've been sick and mostly sleeping over the last few days.
My concern is that hypnosis is notorious for developing false (non-veridical) memories. Like when you have a dream you can't rely on dreams to be true (veridical) representations of the past dreams and 'memories' recalled under hypnosis don't really work that way.
And so I wonder... What good can come of hypnosis? Say you have a 'memory' arise with hypnosis. How do you know whether it is a true (veridical) memory or a false (non-veridical memory. Upshot is that you don't. You never will know without independent evidence. Maybe you will get a sense of certainty of conviction associated with the 'memory' that will clue you in that the memory is true (veridical). Unfortunately, studies show that that sense of certainty / conviction that 'memory' is true / accurate isn't a good indicator of a 'memories' being true / accurate when hypnosis has facilitated the memory.
So that being said...
If you are searching for some meaning... Some narrative etc. You are probably better off with tea leaf reading or astronomy. There really isn't any truth in either of those either but they tend to result in less harm.
All I can see happening with the hypnosis thing is that things will occur to you. Probably horrible things. Probably something along the lines of your worst fears. Why? Because it has been built up to be as much by you and by the hypnotherapist. But whatever occurs to you under hypnosis, whatever sense of conviction or certainty (though some people always do have chronic doubts)... You will never know whether it is veridical (true) or not. In fact... Studies show more likely to be false than true.
So...
Why?
I still don't understand.
I mean, sure you can wait for the fears to occur to you in 'memory' form. But why do that when you can just talk through some of your fears. Sad fact is that people can't remember everything in the past. What age memories are you talking about? We don't really have verbal memories before we learn to talk (ie develop the cognitive capacity for thought / language)
poster:Estella
thread:677710
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060808/msgs/679187.html