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Does the phrase Mind Control sound ominous to you?
Mind Control or mind control techniques is a phrase that always had a controversial ring to it. Because it is used to mean one of the two things: controlling one’s own mind, with the objective of improving oneself; or, an attempt to control another person’s mind, either with their consent, or without their prior knowledge – which is where the controversy comes in.
WHY CONTROL MIND?
We know that thoughts can be powerful things. It’s no secret that thoughts that dominate inside our head are those that ultimately influence our behavior and actions.
So it follows that, by controlling thoughts, one can effect a change in behavior.
No wonder mind control techniques have gained in popularity, and are sought after by both, people looking to change themselves, and by those that work on “changing” others – like therapists and hypnotists.
COMMON MIND CONTROL TECHNIQUES
Below are some of the most common mind control methods being pursued today, and whether they are effective in any way.
1. SUBLIMINAL MESSAGING
Subliminal messages are those messages – visual or auditory – that are passed on to our brain by bypassing our normal conscious perceptions. These include visual messages being “flashed” into our brain without giving our eyes a chance to “see” the image, or sounds inaudible to our ears being transmitted directly to our brain.
So, can subliminal messages influence us? That’s a scary notion, isn’t it?
2. BRAINWAVE SYNCHRONIZATION
Every little thing we do or think results in neurons communicating with each other inside our brain. These neurons transmit electrical signals between them, generating wavelike patterns called brainwaves.
Different states of our mind result in different frequencies of these brainwaves. So, would it be possible for us to alter brainwaves, to get to a pre-determined state of mind?
More on Brainwave Synchronization
3. NEURO-LINGUISTIC PROGRAMMING (NLP)
Neuro-linguistic Programming, or NLP, is based on the idea that successful patterns of behavior can be brought about, either in yourself or others, by modifying the underlying thought patterns and interpersonal interactions.
Do NLP techniques work? Are you considering getting yourself trained and certified in NLP techniques?
4. COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
CBT is a therapeutic technique that may not typically be associated with “mind control” per se, but it works on the underlying principle of behavior modification based on the corresponding thought modification.
What are CBT techniques used for? How effective are they?
More on Cognitive Behavior Modification
5. HYPNOSIS
Hypnosis is a mind control technique used by professional hypnotists to get to your suggestible subconscious mind, by bypassing your conscious, analytical mind, with the purpose of implanting positive thoughts or replacing long-held negative beliefs in your mind.
Hypnosis has been used successfully in sports, education, therapy, and in self improvement to improve self confidence, eliminate fears, phobias and bad habits, as well as for relaxation and stress relief benefits. National Institutes of Healthhas also declared hypnosis effective in reducing certain kinds of pain, including pain from cancer.
In addition to self help benefits, hypnosis has also been claimed to be useful in altering another person’s thought process for other purposes like negotiation, persuasion or sales.
This model of hypnosis is called Conversational Hypnosis and is based on the techniques developed by American psychiatrist and medical hypnotherapist, Milton H. Erickson.
While a full discussion on Ericksonian Hypnosis techniques is beyond the scope of this website, you can visit the HypnosisDownloads site if you are interested in learning more about them.
