The initial scientific beginnings in the study of hypnosis began with Anton Mesmer in 1775, from whose name originates the term mesmerism which is still in current usage.
Mesmer’s utilization of hypnosis began with his discovery that specific types of medical
patients responded to arm stroking and sleep suggestions.

Hypnosis is a result of cooperation. Without full cooperation between the subject and hypnotist there can be no successful hypnosis. Resistance to hypnosis, admitted or concealed, conveys the failure of the essential cooperation, and consequently a trance state does not and cannot take place.

Hypnosis, or “artificially enhanced state of suggestibility resembling sleep”, has been
known for many centuries. In ancient days, however, there was neither understanding of
it nor appreciation of its nature. Its power was attributed to darkness and magic. It is well known that ancient magicians and fakirs, particularly among the Hindus, practiced various forms of hypnotism.

Children make excellent hypnosis subjects. Since children are conditioned to accept orders from their parents and other grown-ups, they respond to hypnosis suggestions without questioning.

It’s a fact that people with highly developed imagination enter the hypnotic state with greater ease than others. Thus, artists, musicians and poets are proved to be the best hypnosis subjects. There are very tangible reasons for this, the prominent being the fact that those in the creative world experience greater accessibility to the subconscious owing to the nature of their greater sensitivity to internal and external impressions.