Mesmerism:
Mesmerism refers to the theory and practice introduced by Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815), an Austrian physician, who believed that living beings were influenced by a subtle, invisible natural force he called “animal magnetism.”
Core Ideas of Mesmerism
- Animal Magnetism: Mesmer proposed that an invisible universal fluid or magnetic force flows through all living things, and disruptions in this flow cause illness.
- Healing Practice: He claimed that by using magnets, passes of the hands, or even his own personal energy, he could restore balance and health.
- Trance States: Patients often entered altered states of consciousness (similar to hypnosis) during Mesmer’s treatments, experiencing convulsions, relief, or calmness.
Historical Significance
- Mesmer gained both fame and controversy in Paris in the late 18th century.
- In 1784, a commission (including Benjamin Franklin and Antoine Lavoisier) investigated his claims and concluded that the effects were due to imagination and suggestion, not a magnetic fluid.
- Although discredited as a physical theory, Mesmerism laid the groundwork for the development of hypnosis.
Evolution
- James Braid (1840s): Rejected the “magnetic fluid” idea but kept the practical aspects, coining the term “hypnotism.”
- Modern Hypnotherapy: Builds on Braid’s psychological framework rather than Mesmer’s fluid theory, though Mesmer is often credited as the originator of hypnotic practice.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 