Short description
A detailed and scholarly history of the phenomena, practice and theory of mesmerism, hypnotism and multiple personality disorder.
Long description
In 1778, Franz Anton Mesmer introduced to Paris his theory of 'animal magnetism' and so began a school of thought which gradually spread across Europe and America. This book traces the history of the phenomena, practice and theory of mesmerism, hypnotism and multiple personality disorder. It discusses the ideas and influences of leading figures in the movement and decribes the use of the techniques in medical practice. Case histories and anecdotal accounts are used throughout to provide a fascinating insight into this controversial subject. In his epilogue, Gauld discusses modern approaches to hypnotism and multiple personality disorder, the role of hypnotism in clinical practice, and offers some ideas for understanding these intriguing phenomena. This detailed and scholarly work will be of interest to psychiatrists, psychologists and medical historians, as well as to the interested general reader.
Review
' a useful reference tool ...' Roger Cooter, British Medical Journal ' for those who want a complete history of the early phase of hypnotism, this book is well worth reading.' P. J. Whorwell, Lancet ' massive, authoritative and erudite ... will surely remain the standard history of hypnotism for a long time to come.' Society for Psychical Research
Table of contents
- Prologue
- Franz Anton Mesmer
- Part I
- The Successors of Mesmer
- The Royal Commissions and the pamphlet war
- Puysegur
- Phenomena and speculations
- Mesmerism in the German
- speaking countries
- Kluge
- The revival of magnetism in France
- Mesmerism and the medical profession in France
- Mystical magnetism
- Germany
- Mystical magnetism
- France
- Mesmerism in the United States
- Mesmerism in Britain
- Topics from the Zoist
- Animal magnetism
- retrospect and reflections
- Part II
- The Heyday of Hypnotism
- Precursors of hypnotism
- Hypnotism and scientific orthodoxy
- The Nancy school
- Pierre Janet and his influence
- Dipsychists and polypsychists
- Hypnotism and multiple personality in the United States
- Hypnotism and suggestion at the turn of the century I
- preliminary considerations
- The turn of the century II
- hypnotic phenomena
- The turn of the century III
- uses and applications of hypnotism
- The turn of the century IV
- states ostensibly related to hypnosis
- The turn of the century V
- theories of hypnosis
- The decline of hypnotism
- Epilogue
- hypnotism today
- Barber and beyond