Addictive Thinking: Understanding Self-Deception

by Abraham J. Twerski

The Chair on the Desk While teaching psychiatry to medical students, I had a student who expressed interest in learning more about hypnosis. I felt that the most effective method of teaching this was to hypnotize him and allow him to learn firsthand what a hypnotic trance is and the various phenomena that can be produced under hypnosis. This young man happened to be an excellent hypnotic subject, and in several sessions, I was able to demonstrate the various applications of hypnosis. Because I also wanted him to understand the phenomenon of post-hypnotic suggestion, I said to him: “Some time after you emerge from this trance, I will give you a signal—I will tap my pencil on the desk. At that point, you will get up, pick up the chair on which you are sitting, and place it on my desk. However, you will have no memory that I gave this instruction.” I then brought him out of the trance, and we continued our discussion about hypnosis. After several moments, I nonchalantly picked up my pencil and tapped it lightly on the desk, while continuing the conversation. Within a few moments, the student, obviously uncomfortable, began to fidget. “I have this crazy urge to pick up my chair and put it on your desk,” he said. “Why should you want to do that?” I asked. “I don’t know. It’s a crazy idea, but I just feel like I have to do it.” He paused. “Did you tell me something like that during the trance?” “Yes, I did.” “Then why can’t I remember it?” he asked. “Because when I gave you the ...