While certain hypnosis stages are characteristic of the hypnotic trance, their manifestations vary with the individual subject and with the depth of the trance, that is, whether light or deep hypnosis. Even so, hypnosis stages and phenomena usually found in deep hypnosis may occur in light hypnosis and vice versa, depending upon the subject’s personality and psychological needs at the time.

The technique of inducing hypnosis, contrary to long-established and traditional superstitious ideas of eye fixation, crystal balls, and passes of the hand, is primarily a function of the interpersonal relationship existing between the subject and the hypnotist.

In any discussion of hypnosis certain general questions arise concerning who may be hypnotized, the possible detrimental effects of hypnosis, its possible antisocial use, the nature of the hypnotist-subject relationship, the controllability of the hypnotic state, the relationship between hypnotic sleep and physiological sleep, and the possibility that hypnosis may crystallize or precipitate abnormal or pathological conditions in subjects that otherwise might have remained indefinitely dormant.

More than often, techniques of hypnosis center primarily on what the hypnotist does or says to induce trances, with too little attention directed to what the subjects are doing and experiencing.

Rapport is one of the most important features of unconscious human interaction. It is commonality of perspective, being in “sync”, being on the same “wavelength” as the person with whom you are talking.