Skeptic Check: Hypnosis

Big Picture Science

Science, Technology

4.5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2026

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

You are getting sleeeepy and open to suggestion. But is that how hypnotism works? And does it really open up a portal to the unconscious mind? Hypnotism can be an effective therapeutic tool, and some scientists suggest replacing opioids with hypnosis for pain relief. And yet, the performance aspect of hypnotism often seems at odds with the idea of it being an effective treatment. In our regular look at critical thinking, Skeptic Check, we ask what part of hypnotism is real and what is an illusion. Plus, we discuss how the swinging watch became hypnotism’s irksome trademark. Guests: David Spiegel – Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine Devin Terhune – Reader in the Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London Originally aired June 27, 2002 Graphic by Shannon Rose Geary Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.
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0:56.3	Sign up for your £1 per month trial at shopify.com.uk.com.uk slash Spotify. When you think hypnotism, you might imagine a therapist swinging a pocket watch like a metronome in front of a patient's eyes.
1:19.7	The hypnotist says something like, you are getting sleepy, while lulling the subject into a comforting trance,
1:26.2	where he'll be amenable to suggestion
1:28.2	to all kinds of suggestions hear me count the three and snap my fingers you will
1:33.5	remember a time when you had a case of the giggles on the count of three you're
1:39.9	going to feel the case of the giggles come on one, two, and three.
1:49.5	And sleep.
1:52.0	Hypnotism can be an effective therapeutic tool, and yet the performance aspect of hypnotism
1:57.1	is at odds with the idea of somber medical sessions. What about hypnotism is real and what is an illusion?
2:04.6	This is Big Picture Science.
2:06.6	And I'm Seth Shostak.
	...

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