Hypnosis - Darren Brown (hell, experience)

[Dream Angel]

Ok, Mum and I watch this incredible documentary last night. When Derren Brown hypnotised someone and made her believe she was witnessing her own death (sort of like an out of body experience) - I thought it was quite mean but she did ask to be on his show! Heres the story of events as I can remember it! Oh I should mention he chose a car crash as she is a reckless driver

This girl rang up his show and asked if she could be on it. She was accepted and Darren Brown told her that she would be part with in the next 4 weeks. He also sent her for some beauty treatment (or so she thought) - they actually molded a replica of her face!

While she was driving along, He rang her and told her to pull over - he sent her to sleep over the phone! Then the crew came in removed her from the car, prepared the crash of two cars - and placed the dummy which looked exactly like her (only dead) in the car. He stood her up a short distance away from the crash and told her not to move her legs (so she would stay in the same spot maybe to not catch on!)

He then woke up and the actors went into action - including ambulance/police/ etc and the poor woman was there going "hello, hello, Im definitely here, i know i am". When the acting scene had finished and everyone had gone (including the dummy!) Derren Brown rang her on her mobile to tell her! They even allowed her to get in a car and drive off! and apprantly they had a pyschiatrist on stand by!!!!

Another thing he does, is in England we have a shopping complex called Merry Hill, he gets on the speak phone and in the middle of songs says things like "Put your right hand up now" he does this for a couple of hours. Then he stops the music and says "Now" - I have never witnessed this but apparantly 9/10 people put their right hands up!!!

What are you thoughts on this? Hypnosis etc?

[kadzbiz]

The way I understand it is that hypnotism enables one to act out without any inhibitions, but one is still aware of what one is doing, supposedly. Having viewed some of those hypno comedy shows, for some people I think it's just an excuse to play up to the audience for a laugh. Hypnotism seems a powerful tool though, having stopped people from smoking etc. and regressing people back to past events seems to assist in healing them in some some instances. I've heard that alleged past lives can even be accessed. Even crimes can be solved sometimes. There's something to it.

[darkpenguin]

Sorry I hate to nitpick but for anyone wanting to research further his name is Derren Brown.
He's a really impressive psychological illusionist and is even better if you can find one of his live shows on youtube.

[Dream Angel]

Originally Posted by darkpenguin

Sorry I hate to nitpick but for anyone wanting to research further his name is Derren Brown.
He's a really impressive psychological illusionist and is even better if you can find one of his live shows on youtube.

Thanks for that! My mums fault - she said Darren! hehe....

[Phil Osophy]

He first came to fame in the UK when he supposedly played Russian Roulette live on TV. It later transpired that the gun was loaded with a blank, although it was apparently a dangerous stunt even in this form. He does some really impressive stuff, but does tend to go OTT from time to time.

[Dream Angel]

I had never heard of him until last night! I have always been skeptical of hypnosis, but he seemed very good. I am sure there are fakes out there, like with everything. I suppose fakes wouldnt be able to do the OTT stunts - so its a way of showing that he is genuine perhaps! Personally I dont think I would be able to be hypnotised!

[MaddLlama]

Hypnosis, especially stage hypnosis like Darren Brown isn't really anything special. It's really just the power of suggestion - the participants do what he tells them to do willingly, rather than because he's controlling them somehow. Hypnosis is entertaining but meaningless beyond that.

[Nanda]

Yes, they did this whole thing on Mythbusters about whether or not someone could be forced to do something through hypnosis if they weren't willing, and they cannot.

[Dream Angel]

Originally Posted by Nanda

Yes, they did this whole thing on Mythbusters about whether or not someone could be forced to do something through hypnosis if they weren't willing, and they cannot.

So do you think that means hypnosis is fake/or is just a suggestive technique - as if you cant force someone to do something that they are not willing to do - you may as well just ask them!

I wonder how they send people to sleep though? especially over the phone like Derren brown did with my example of the car crash!

[Nanda]