The Ethics of Covert Hypnosis - William May

The Ethics of “Covert” Hypnosis – William May

Sun, Dec 6, 2009

It is a common question, one that anyone who works with and teaches hypnosis, particularly covert hypnosis, will run across. Even before it is asked, I see it in the eyes, hear the slowing of the voice. It is, for many (myself included) one of the most serious questions that we run across, and it’s only natural that, as it is broached, the breath shallows slightly, the voice lowering to a whisper.

“But, isn’t it wrong to hypnotize someone without their knowledge?”

Now, I tend to think of myself as a “good” person. I try as much as I can to make the world a better place, for myself and for those I interact with. While I can be a bit skeptically distant, I try to give everyone the same respect that I would want for myself. I don’t want to control anyone, really, but I do want to connect with those I meet on a deep level. It would be easy to take the route of saying, as many do, that hypnosis is merely a tool which can be used for good or ill, and to urge students and friends, invoking the spirit, perhaps, Yoda, to seek the lighter side of the force.

This is, however, not the real answer. Deeper within the question lies the real reasons why I use and teach covert hypnosis, and one of the central attitudes, I believe, that makes for a great persuader. I often share this particular perspective with others, when someone raises this question, or, as occasionally happens, I’m accused by someone who does not understand of malice merely for being an effective communicator.

We’ve all known someone who had a job that labeled them. Perhaps it’s a cop, who, whenever anyone discovers their profession, becomes “the cop” in their mind. Immediately, they become not a full person but a job, and the interaction immediately suffers. Now, if you think about who you are, it’s clear that your conscious thoughts are only the tip of the iceberg. So much of who you are, of who anyone is, lies deeper within the mind.

Hypnosis is about connecting with that deeper level, speaking not with the consciousness alone but with the whole person. Now, if I ignore so much of the person, the massive portion of identity that is not represented by the subconscious, it’s easy to see, isn’t it, that I am ignoring a huge portion of who you are. In a very significant sense, I have limited the portion of you that matters, much as with the cop, whose identity is limited by knowledge of his professional affiliation.

By using hypnosis, I am opening up the opportunity to share a deeper form of communication, one which takes into consideration aspects of those I communicate with that are not typically recognized or engaged. When I enter rapport with you, we are sharing a deep level of connection, certainly, and we are opening ourselves up, creating an opportunity for sharing a profound experience. Hypnotic communication relies upon being able to understand and communicate with those we encounter, and is predicated upon recognizing them, relating to them, and connecting with them. Certainly, there are those who warp these techniques for nefarious purposes, for controlling and commandeering others, but they are by far in the minority.

What is more, that very attitude is largely in opposition to many of the more powerful techniques, in my mind, since the level of connection required won’t easily coexist with the abhorrent feeling of being controlled. Now, I’m not an innocent, so I do know that people misuse these skills, and I am always saddened by such stories, but for the most part, the individuals I meet, the ones who truly wish to master these skills, who take the time to develop them, tend to be more sensitive and intelligent. They are not out to control others, but to create better relationships, with the knowledge that they can generate positive outcomes in their own and other peoples’ lives, which is precisely what mastering hypnotic language can, at its’ best, allow.

To me, using hypnotic language isn’t just a passably moral concept, not something that is hedged in as acceptable because it’s in the right hands, it is an opportunity to have more genuine and powerful interactions, and a calling towards being a more positive and impactful person. It seems to me that, if you do want to interact with others in a genuine and meaningful way, the experience should be entrancingly magical, and utilizing knowledge to create such positive possibilities with those we meet is something, isn’t it, we can all aspire to.

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William May, Will to his friends and students, first began to explore the world of hypnosis as a teenager, but it was while studying writing as an undergraduate at Sarah Lawrence College that his passion truly became ignited by a chance encounter with a book on Milton Erickson at the school library.

Over the years since, Will has continued to read, study and practice these skills, taking them with him into the real world. Will’s professional journey has been filled with unusual adventures, and intriguing pitstops, from working as a college professor in North Carolina, to being the entire backstage crew to an off-broadway mentalism show in NYC.

Will has always found that his understanding of conversational hypnosis and persuasion has served him well. He and his partner Tim Shay founded masterhypnoticlanguage.com as an opportunity to share their unique perspective with aspiring hypnotists around the world.

To learn the techniques and attitudes of real-world masters of conversational hypnosis, be sure to check out www.masterhypnoticlanguage.com, where you can learn about our exciting coaching program or sign up for our ground-breaking newsletter, where Will and Tim share their exciting new techniques and approaches.

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