Clark L. Hull (1884-1952) is one of the most prominent psychologists of the twentieth century, and was a dominating presence in American psychology research for two decades. Although he initially wanted to become a mining engineer, he began his studies in psychology after suffering a bout with polio (he walked with a cane his whole life). After he became familiar with Pavlov’s ideas on classical conditioning, he busied himself with the mechanics of the learning process and evolved into a radical behaviorist. His ideas were very important for learning therapy and later for behavior therapy. His most important books are “Principles of Behavior” (1943) 1) and “Essentials of Behavior” (1951) 2). However, Hull also examined the phenomenon of hypnosis scientifically during his career.

Hull published the results of his hypnosis experiments in this book from 1933

Sources:

1) Hull, C. L.(1943). Principles of behavior: An introduction to behavior theory. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

2) Hull, C.L. (1951). Essentials of Behavior. New Haven: Yale University Press

3) Hull, C.L. (1933). Hypnosis and suggestibility: an experimental approach. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts

After World War II, the development of hypnosis research in Germany was led primarily by two doctors, J.H. Schultz (1884-1870) and Dietrich Langen (1913-1980).
Johannes Heinrich Schultz completed his studies of medicine at the universities of Lausanne, Göttingen, and Breslau. Later he worked at the university clinic in Jena, where he habilitated in 1915, and was named outstanding professor in 1919. He eventually established himself as a neurologist and psychotherapist in Berlin. Schultz was especially known for his book on “Autogenic Training” (1932), where he develops a method for physical and mental relaxation via hypnosis. Schultz, whose role as a doctor during the reign of the Nazis is still controversial, was a student of the famous hypnosis and brain researcher Oskar Vogt (see hall 8). In 1952, he composed a book on “Hypnosis Technique” 1). In 1955, he founded the “German Society for Medical Hypnosis and Autogenic Training (DGÄHAT)”, and thereby created the first institutional framework for practical and scientific examination of hypnosis in Germany.

Dietrich Langen (1913 - 1980)

Sources:

1) Schultz, J.H. (1952). Hypnose-Technik. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer

2) Langen, D. (1972). Kompendium der medizinischen Hypnose. Basel: Karger.

3) Stokvis, B. (1955). Hypnose in der ärztlichen Praxis. Basel: Karger.

4) Jovanovic, U.J. (1988). Methodik und Theorie der Hypnose. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer.

Johannes Heinrich Schultz (1884 - 1970)

Dietrich Langen was born in 1913 in Apia on the island of Samoa to the planter and engineer Erich Langen. During the Second World War he acted as a brain surgeon on the eastern front. After the war, E. Kretschmer’s 1949 book “Psychotherapeutic Studies” awoke an interest in clinical psychotherapy for Langen– so much so that he gave up a position as head doctor to work as an unpaid assistant to Kretschmer in Tübingen. There he learned his “stepped active hypnosis”. In 1958 he undertook a habilitation under E. Kretschmer, and in 1965 was called to be the chair for “psychotherapy and medical psychology” at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. He is especially known for his “Compendium of Medical Hypnosis” 2) , which he developed from a book of the influential Dutch hypnotherapist Berthold Stokvis 3). “With J.H Schultz and Dietrich Langen ended the period of classical medical hypnosis in the German tongue” (Jovanovic, 1988, p. 95 4)).

Enrest Ropiequet Hilgard (1904-2001) was a prominent research personality, who not only spurred the scientific development of hypnosis, but also made valuable contributions to general psychology. His book “Introduction to Psychology” (later with other authors), has achieved thirteen editions; another book, “Theories of Learning” is considered a classic.
In the 1950s, while at Stanford University, he developed an important test (Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scales, Form A, B und C) that objectively determines the suggestibility of a test person. This significant development allowed researchers in different institutions a universal standard by which to compare results of hypnosis experiments.

Hilgard carrying out a psychological experiment in 1953

Ernest R. Hilgard (1904 - 2001)

He summarized these processes in his book “Hypnotic Susceptibility” in 1965 1). Starting in 1966, he began examining hypnotic analgesia (hypnosis as pain killer); from this work came another classic of modern hypnosis research, “Hypnosis in the Relief of Pain” (1975) 2). He worked out his influential Neo-Dissociation Theory of Hypnosis in his book “Divided Consciousness: Multiple Controls in Human Thought and Action” 3).
Hilgard also directed his energy toward the development of the professional community; among other posts, he was president of the International Society of Hypnosis (1973-1976).

Sources:

1) Hilgard, E.R. (1965). Hypnotic Susceptibility. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

2) Hilgard, E.R. & Hilgard, J.R.(1975). Hypnosis in the relief of pain. Los Altos: Kaufmann.

3) Hilgard, E.R. (1977). Divided Consciousness: Multiple controls in human thought and action. New York: Wiley.

In the approximately 200-year history of hypnosis (since Franz Anton Mesmer), the unique hypnotherapeutic approach of Milton H. Erickson constitutes a significant departure (Jay Haley’s book on Erickson’s work from 1967 serves as a useful contemporary account) 1). While before Erickson, hypnotists believed in an ‘outward force’ – be it the force of ‘magnetism’ or the (seeming) power of the hypnotist – Erickson himself worked with the ‘powers’ of his patients, i.e., their personal resources. When a patient can be given access to his or her own resources (often emotional), then these can be employed to a therapeutic end. It’s quite hard to really characterize Erickson’s approach to hypnosis therapy. His program might best be explained as the utilization of his uncommon creativity, which responded to the individual patient’s needs, and which he adapted to each new patient.

In doing so, Erickson frequently left the boundaries of hypnotherapy and worked with paradoxical interventions such as ‘symptom prescription’. Since hypnotherapy and Ericksonian therapy are partly congruent with one another, it’s difficult to describe Ericksonian therapy as an independent form of therapy. Nevertheless, the field of hypnotherapy has certainly profited from his innovations. Erickson’s work is often viewed as standing in opposition to the so-called classic, authoritative form of hypnosis. This is only partly deserved, though. Erickson could by all means be authoritative in his interventions, when it ‘fit’. According to reports of colleagues and others familiar with Erickson’s work (Jay Haley, Kay Thompson, Robert Pearson, Ernest Rossi), he would often use direct suggestions to his patients 2).

Milton H. Erickson (1901-1980)

The Milton Erickson Society for Clinical Hypnosis (MEG), founded 1979 in Munich, as well as the German Society for Hypnosis (DGH), are both overwhelmingly indebted to the development of the resource-oriented approach of Ericksonian hypnotherapy.

Sources:

1) Haley, J. (Hrsg., 1967). Advanced techniques of hypnosis and therapy. Selected papers of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. New York: Grune & Stratton.

2) Hammond, D.C. (1986). Mythen um Erickson und Ericksonsche Hypnose. Experimentelle und Klinische Hypnose, 2, 5 - 16.