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They Call It Hypnosis
This engrossing, factual bookpaints a clear picture of what hypnosis is and is not, what it can and cannot accomplish, and how it can be misused and abused. Baker describes its potential for preventing or arresting pain and outlines future directions for the role of suggestion in the clinic and the laboratory. This is the definitive study of hypnosis that illuminates this very unique aspect of creative human behavior.
- GenresPsychology
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1990
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About the author
Robert A. Baker
31 books1 followerThere is more than one author in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for Robert A.^Baker.
Baker, Robert A. (Robert Allen) 1921-2005
He is the editor of Psychology in the Wry, a collection of satire, and was formerly the co-editor of Approaches, a quarterly journal of contemporary poetry. His satirical and humorous verses have appeared in Vogue, Saturday Review, The Journal of Irreproducible Results, Worm-Runners' Digest, and other journals.
Baker, Robert A. (Robert Allen) 1921-2005
He is the editor of Psychology in the Wry, a collection of satire, and was formerly the co-editor of Approaches, a quarterly journal of contemporary poetry. His satirical and humorous verses have appeared in Vogue, Saturday Review, The Journal of Irreproducible Results, Worm-Runners' Digest, and other journals.
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November 11, 2025
A PSYCHOLOGIST MAKES A CASE AGAINST HYPNOSIS
Robert Allen Baker (1921-2005) was an American psychologist, professor of psychology emeritus of the University of Kentucky, and a past fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1990 book, “To say that the subject [of hypnosis] is controversial is an understatement… Some authorities say there is no such thing as hypnosis, that the entire process is a delusion; others say that everything… we ar aware of and perceive… is hypnosis… Any intelligent nonbiased observer has the right to ask the very simple and straightforward question: Is there a real, obervable, reproducible state of hypnosis, and actual phenomenon we can … agree on? They deserve to receive a simple, straightforward answer: yes or no.
“To provide this answer is not, however, as easy as it would appear. The answer will depend upon which expert is asked the question. For the past twenty years I have been asking experts of all sizes, shapes, and convictions this simple question and have received just about every possible and conceivable answer. On many points the experts agree; on other points the disagreement is sharp and acerbic. Nevertheless a large body of experimental, empirical, and practical evidence has been accumulated over the past twenty years that is beginning to clear up the confusion and misunderstanding surrounding the concept of hypnosis and the ‘hypnotic mystery.’ This book is an attempt to bring this evidence together and solve the puzzle of hypnosis.” (Pg. 11-12)
He notes, “Kreskin’s denial of the existence of any such thing as a ‘hypnotic trance’ and his monetary challenge to anyone who thinks he can prove otherwise---in addition to his powerful demonstrations of the power of suggestion and compliance in persosn who are wide awake---are all contributing to the demise of the belief in a special state called ‘hypnosis.’” (Pg. 14-15)
He continues, “Nevertheless, old ways of thinking and believing die hard. Many serious and respectable thinkers are still convinced that there is such a thing as hypnosis and that, after all the experiments, there are enough phenomena to constitute a solid basis for believing that some dramatic change takes place in the human subject that cannot be accounted for by relaxation suggestion, and role-playing. And they are adamant in their position. Thus, there is no topic in the history of psychology more controversial than hypnosis. From its beginning in the middle of the 18th century with Franz Anton Mesmer to the present, the phenomenon has been mired in controversy… The research literature is a veritable quagmire of disagreements, pro and con experimental results, claims and counterclaims.” (Pg. 15)
He explains, “Despite the claims of many that hypnosis is a trance-like, altered state of consciousness, hypnosis as we know it today in the laboratory and clinic is essentially nothing other than communication between an individual in the role of an authority figure calling himself the hypnotist and a second individual complying with the first individual’s requests and suggestions… Yet, because the process appears to produce such a number of strange behaviors and powers in the person supposedly under hypnosis, there are few aspects of psychology that have excited as much interest and have drawn as much attention from the public, the medical establishment, and behavioral scientists.” (Pg. 16)
He adds, “Despite this widespread interest, only in the last few years has hypnosis been subjected to careful scientific scrutiny. The reason for this neglect has been due, primarily, to the long association of hypnosis with the occult, the magical, and the sensational. For this reason, respectable scholars would not touch the subject with an eleven-foot pole… Strictly speaking, every time the world ‘hypnosis’ is used it could be placed in quotation marks. This is because THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HYPNOSIS. The point and purpose of this book is to convince the reader that the phenomenon called ‘hypnosis’ does not exist, has never existed in the past… What is commonly referred to as today as ‘hypnosis’ is a fallacy… a false and mistaken idea handed down from generation to generation…. By individuals with little or no understanding of simpler psychological principles, or by individuals with pet theories and axes to grind that have blinded them of the fact of multiple causation.” (Pg. 17)
He reports, “One of the most … entertaining novels dealing with the topic of hypnosis and post-hypnotic suggestion and control … was Richard Condon’s ‘The Manchurian Candidate’… based … on the so-called ‘brainwashing’ techniques employed by the Chinese and North Koreans during the Korean War… Fortunately, the scenario described in the novel could never happen. Years of experimentation by the CIA has shown this sort of programming simply does not work and never will.” (Pg. 46-48)
He explains, “In 1981 Graham F. Flagstaff, an English psychologist … published a brilliant study of hypnosis titled ‘Hypnosis, Compliance and Belief' … [He] invokes the famous Hawthorne effect to explain the effectiveness of hypnotherapy… In the clinical situation, Wagstaff notes, the Hawthorne effect may also be at work. Hypnosis is a novel procedure that is perceived to be so much better than those dreary old pills. For some individuals, Wagstaff suggests, even ‘standing on one leg’ therapy or ‘putting your fingers in your ears’ therapy might be effective.” (Pg. 123)
He reports, “sleep-learning or unconscious learning … for a while was a multi-million dollar business, [so] it is important to know whether or not such a thing is possible… Simon and Emmons … became skeptical of the so-called evidence and ran several studies of their own. Using EEG records and defining as ‘awake’ any subject showing the alpha rhythm… even with highly intelligent volunteers they found no evidence that any material had been learned during periods of quiet deep sleep… however… it was feasible during periods of drowsiness and in other states of consciousness below maximum alertness. Since we move in and out of deep sleep all through the night, there are many opportunities … for individuals … to absorb and store items of information. It is now generally agreed that… if any learning does occur, it happens while we are awake.” (Pg. 173)
He argues, “In the analgesias (or insensitiveness to pain) and anaesthesias (a loss of feeling in certain parts of the body) dissociation is at work… many people show complete insensitivity to pain in certain body parts… such individuals are actively repressing the stimulations and keeping themselves in the dark about them.” (Pg. 183)
He notes, “In general, fantasy-prone personalities are ‘normal’ people who function as well as others and who are as well-adjusted, competent, and content or discontent as everyone else. Anyone familiar with the fantasy prone personality who reads Whitley Streiber’s ‘Communion’ will suffer an immediate shock of recognition! Streiber is a classic example of the fantasy-prone type: easily hypnotized, amnesiac, from a very religious background, with vivid memories of his early years and a very active fantasy life… Streiber’s wife was questioned under hypnosis by [Budd] Hopkins… With regard to some of Strieber’s visions, she says, ‘Whitley saw a lot of things that I didn’t see at that time.’ … Even more remarkable are the correspondences between Streiber’s alien encounters and the typical hypnopompic hallucinations…” (Pg. 247)
He continues, “In a recent issue of the periodical ‘UFO’ … devoted to the topic of ‘Hypnosis in UFO Research,’ both Streiber and Hopkins urged caution in the use of hypnosis and hypnotic regression… for an individual who has in the past relied so heavily on hypnotic regression to prove his abduction claims, it is extraordinary indeed to hear him now make the following statements: ‘Abduction research may not even be possible utilizing hypnosis; even highly trained hypnotists cannot use the technique reliably for retrieving basic factual information… The so-called ‘abduction narrative,’ which has been gained primarily from hypnotically-induced recall, probably does not reflect actual experience, but rather the application of the subject’s worst fears to their most enigmatic experiences.’” (Pg. 253)
This book will be of great interest anyone studying hypnotism.
Robert Allen Baker (1921-2005) was an American psychologist, professor of psychology emeritus of the University of Kentucky, and a past fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1990 book, “To say that the subject [of hypnosis] is controversial is an understatement… Some authorities say there is no such thing as hypnosis, that the entire process is a delusion; others say that everything… we ar aware of and perceive… is hypnosis… Any intelligent nonbiased observer has the right to ask the very simple and straightforward question: Is there a real, obervable, reproducible state of hypnosis, and actual phenomenon we can … agree on? They deserve to receive a simple, straightforward answer: yes or no.
“To provide this answer is not, however, as easy as it would appear. The answer will depend upon which expert is asked the question. For the past twenty years I have been asking experts of all sizes, shapes, and convictions this simple question and have received just about every possible and conceivable answer. On many points the experts agree; on other points the disagreement is sharp and acerbic. Nevertheless a large body of experimental, empirical, and practical evidence has been accumulated over the past twenty years that is beginning to clear up the confusion and misunderstanding surrounding the concept of hypnosis and the ‘hypnotic mystery.’ This book is an attempt to bring this evidence together and solve the puzzle of hypnosis.” (Pg. 11-12)
He notes, “Kreskin’s denial of the existence of any such thing as a ‘hypnotic trance’ and his monetary challenge to anyone who thinks he can prove otherwise---in addition to his powerful demonstrations of the power of suggestion and compliance in persosn who are wide awake---are all contributing to the demise of the belief in a special state called ‘hypnosis.’” (Pg. 14-15)
He continues, “Nevertheless, old ways of thinking and believing die hard. Many serious and respectable thinkers are still convinced that there is such a thing as hypnosis and that, after all the experiments, there are enough phenomena to constitute a solid basis for believing that some dramatic change takes place in the human subject that cannot be accounted for by relaxation suggestion, and role-playing. And they are adamant in their position. Thus, there is no topic in the history of psychology more controversial than hypnosis. From its beginning in the middle of the 18th century with Franz Anton Mesmer to the present, the phenomenon has been mired in controversy… The research literature is a veritable quagmire of disagreements, pro and con experimental results, claims and counterclaims.” (Pg. 15)
He explains, “Despite the claims of many that hypnosis is a trance-like, altered state of consciousness, hypnosis as we know it today in the laboratory and clinic is essentially nothing other than communication between an individual in the role of an authority figure calling himself the hypnotist and a second individual complying with the first individual’s requests and suggestions… Yet, because the process appears to produce such a number of strange behaviors and powers in the person supposedly under hypnosis, there are few aspects of psychology that have excited as much interest and have drawn as much attention from the public, the medical establishment, and behavioral scientists.” (Pg. 16)
He adds, “Despite this widespread interest, only in the last few years has hypnosis been subjected to careful scientific scrutiny. The reason for this neglect has been due, primarily, to the long association of hypnosis with the occult, the magical, and the sensational. For this reason, respectable scholars would not touch the subject with an eleven-foot pole… Strictly speaking, every time the world ‘hypnosis’ is used it could be placed in quotation marks. This is because THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HYPNOSIS. The point and purpose of this book is to convince the reader that the phenomenon called ‘hypnosis’ does not exist, has never existed in the past… What is commonly referred to as today as ‘hypnosis’ is a fallacy… a false and mistaken idea handed down from generation to generation…. By individuals with little or no understanding of simpler psychological principles, or by individuals with pet theories and axes to grind that have blinded them of the fact of multiple causation.” (Pg. 17)
He reports, “One of the most … entertaining novels dealing with the topic of hypnosis and post-hypnotic suggestion and control … was Richard Condon’s ‘The Manchurian Candidate’… based … on the so-called ‘brainwashing’ techniques employed by the Chinese and North Koreans during the Korean War… Fortunately, the scenario described in the novel could never happen. Years of experimentation by the CIA has shown this sort of programming simply does not work and never will.” (Pg. 46-48)
He explains, “In 1981 Graham F. Flagstaff, an English psychologist … published a brilliant study of hypnosis titled ‘Hypnosis, Compliance and Belief' … [He] invokes the famous Hawthorne effect to explain the effectiveness of hypnotherapy… In the clinical situation, Wagstaff notes, the Hawthorne effect may also be at work. Hypnosis is a novel procedure that is perceived to be so much better than those dreary old pills. For some individuals, Wagstaff suggests, even ‘standing on one leg’ therapy or ‘putting your fingers in your ears’ therapy might be effective.” (Pg. 123)
He reports, “sleep-learning or unconscious learning … for a while was a multi-million dollar business, [so] it is important to know whether or not such a thing is possible… Simon and Emmons … became skeptical of the so-called evidence and ran several studies of their own. Using EEG records and defining as ‘awake’ any subject showing the alpha rhythm… even with highly intelligent volunteers they found no evidence that any material had been learned during periods of quiet deep sleep… however… it was feasible during periods of drowsiness and in other states of consciousness below maximum alertness. Since we move in and out of deep sleep all through the night, there are many opportunities … for individuals … to absorb and store items of information. It is now generally agreed that… if any learning does occur, it happens while we are awake.” (Pg. 173)
He argues, “In the analgesias (or insensitiveness to pain) and anaesthesias (a loss of feeling in certain parts of the body) dissociation is at work… many people show complete insensitivity to pain in certain body parts… such individuals are actively repressing the stimulations and keeping themselves in the dark about them.” (Pg. 183)
He notes, “In general, fantasy-prone personalities are ‘normal’ people who function as well as others and who are as well-adjusted, competent, and content or discontent as everyone else. Anyone familiar with the fantasy prone personality who reads Whitley Streiber’s ‘Communion’ will suffer an immediate shock of recognition! Streiber is a classic example of the fantasy-prone type: easily hypnotized, amnesiac, from a very religious background, with vivid memories of his early years and a very active fantasy life… Streiber’s wife was questioned under hypnosis by [Budd] Hopkins… With regard to some of Strieber’s visions, she says, ‘Whitley saw a lot of things that I didn’t see at that time.’ … Even more remarkable are the correspondences between Streiber’s alien encounters and the typical hypnopompic hallucinations…” (Pg. 247)
He continues, “In a recent issue of the periodical ‘UFO’ … devoted to the topic of ‘Hypnosis in UFO Research,’ both Streiber and Hopkins urged caution in the use of hypnosis and hypnotic regression… for an individual who has in the past relied so heavily on hypnotic regression to prove his abduction claims, it is extraordinary indeed to hear him now make the following statements: ‘Abduction research may not even be possible utilizing hypnosis; even highly trained hypnotists cannot use the technique reliably for retrieving basic factual information… The so-called ‘abduction narrative,’ which has been gained primarily from hypnotically-induced recall, probably does not reflect actual experience, but rather the application of the subject’s worst fears to their most enigmatic experiences.’” (Pg. 253)
This book will be of great interest anyone studying hypnotism.
April 6, 2023
An informative book that debunks hypnosis myths while highlighting valuable and effective elements of hypnosis.
Hypnosis/mesmerism has always been a haven for hype, charlatans, and occult associations: subjects who can diagnose illnesses, regress to past lives, communicate with the spirit world, recall lost memories, exhibit superhuman feats of strength, undergo surgery without anesthesia, and so on. All these claims have been disproven by scientific investigation. Baker explains the relevant research in great detail.
Baker's thesis is that there is no "trance state" of hypnosis. In every case, there is simply a relaxed, fully-awake person, obeying suggestions and role-playing. It's notable that scientists have no technique for discerning when a person is in a hypnotic trance — strongly suggesting that no such trance exists. Researchers have also shown that relaxed, cooperative, non-hypnotized people can perform all the same feats as the "hypnotized." All you have to do is ask nicely!
On the constructive side, Baker recognizes that relaxation, suggestion, and related phenomena (like the placebo effect) are powerful techniques, and he discusses how they can be usefully practiced without all the woo-woo of "hypnosis."
Hypnosis/mesmerism has always been a haven for hype, charlatans, and occult associations: subjects who can diagnose illnesses, regress to past lives, communicate with the spirit world, recall lost memories, exhibit superhuman feats of strength, undergo surgery without anesthesia, and so on. All these claims have been disproven by scientific investigation. Baker explains the relevant research in great detail.
Baker's thesis is that there is no "trance state" of hypnosis. In every case, there is simply a relaxed, fully-awake person, obeying suggestions and role-playing. It's notable that scientists have no technique for discerning when a person is in a hypnotic trance — strongly suggesting that no such trance exists. Researchers have also shown that relaxed, cooperative, non-hypnotized people can perform all the same feats as the "hypnotized." All you have to do is ask nicely!
On the constructive side, Baker recognizes that relaxation, suggestion, and related phenomena (like the placebo effect) are powerful techniques, and he discusses how they can be usefully practiced without all the woo-woo of "hypnosis."
March 5, 2013
Readable, thorough and convincing book on hypnosis. Baker has a skeptical attitude on hypnosis, which he presents as a state of relaxation and enhanced suggestibility. This book is both scientific and entertaining. It covers issues as hypnosis as pain relief, so called past life memories and many more. Baker seems to agree that “the game of hypnosis” might be a useful tool in therapeutic settings, for example when people are trying to quit smoking, but the effect is due to relaxation and suggestion, not the “nonexistent hypnosis”.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews