If you believe you are hypnotised then you could be?

The reticular activation system (RAS) is a part of the brain that creates our perception by sorting relevant data that is received through the senses.

Imagine going to a party with your partner and they spot in the crowd someone wearing exactly the same clothes. Many a happy night has been spoilt by this type of event. This is the reticular activation system (RAS) at work The conscious mind talks to the RAS to sort relevant information that indicates someone could be wearing similar clothes. This is then passed to the subconscious mind. Look at the image to the left, can you see two faces or cup? This is your RAS at play. A very simplistic example, but you get the idea.

How does the reticular activation system work in hypnosis? Most hypnosis training courses worth their salt will tell you that the first step in hypnotising someone is believing that you can. This activates the RAS to look for all relevant information that will help you to hypnotise this person. The subconscious mind then responds by helping you to achieve the goal of trance.

"John is like some seven year old kid who learned how to hypnotise people. It never occurs to him that there are some people who may not be hypnotisable, so therefore, anyone he wants to trance, usually gets hypnotised." said about John Cerbone.

Think about someone who believes they can be hypnotised or who believes they are in the process of being hypnotised. The conscious mind sends an instruction to the RAS, telling it to sort all relevant information that indicates they are entering into a trance. The subconscious mind then acts upon this information by entering into what it believes to be a trance. Does this mean that hypnotic inductions are ritualistic and are only there to create the belief of hypnosis and it is the RAS that is the real hypnotist? Or maybe, if you believe you are hypnotised then you are?