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Subliminal Hypnosis: Does it Work?

By: James Malone

There is an urban legend about how the owner of a movie theater inserted subliminal messages into the movies he was showing saying things like “EAT MORE POPCORN” and that sales at his snack bar soared as a result. Although this event apparently did not really happen, it raises some intriguing questions. Would it be possible to use subliminal hypnosis technology to influence ourselves or others?

The premise is that if a message can be introduced into someone’s subconscious without his or her conscious awareness or processing, it will have a more powerful impact on future behavior than ordinary communication. Manufacturers of subliminal self-help products use either visual images or sound recordings in their offerings.

A visual subliminal involves splicing words or images into a seemingly ordinary video every few frames so that it is not detected consciously, at most it will appear as a quick blip on the screen.

In creating audio subliminal recordings, a number of elaborate proprietary processes are used that are supposed to somehow embed the concealed messages into a music or natural sounds track.

Critics of the audio programs point out that a sound is either heard or it isn’t. If you are whispering to someone at a noisy construction site the louder sounds are physically canceling out your message and thus there is no communication or persuasion.

However, the visual system is able to discern fleeting images, as evidenced by speed readers who can take in written information very rapidly by scanning whole sentences and even paragraphs instead of single words.

The potential effectiveness of visual subliminal influence seems to be more plausible than for the audio methods, especially if emotionally charged words/images are used since strong emotion enhances suggestibility.

Then there is the question as to whether the placebo effect comes into play. A true test of subliminal hypnosis technology would be to try it out on unsuspecting individuals to see if it indeed had an effect beyond chance and little research has been done in this direction, possibly due to ethical concerns.

When used as a self-help product, it is actually impossible to factor out the placebo effect. The intention to use any form of assistance towards a worthwhile goal and a belief in its effectiveness is in itself a powerful force. In one study it was found that telling people an ordinary audio recording contained subliminal suggestions for anxiety reduction produced a healing effect in a significant fraction of participants.

So can subliminal hypnosis technology be effective? A case could be made that a properly designed visual subliminal program could indeed help you reach your intended goals.

James Malone is a Certified Hypnotist from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. Rest assured only positive subliminal messages were used in the creation of this article and that your growing curiosity about Subliminal Hypnosis is healthy and should be encouraged by PAYING A VISIT to the

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