Suggestion and suggestive techniques

From time immemorial, man aspired to know the secrets of nature and himself, as its important part. Among the ways of influencing the world, suggestion opened new possibilities for people and was considered a magical and healing tool of shamans, priests changing the perception and thinking of the person to whom the suggestion is directed.

What is suggestion?

Suggestion is (Latin suggestion - suggestion, advice) - a special kind of verbal and non-verbal influence on the human psyche, for introducing subliminal settings, programs with manipulative or therapeutic purpose. As a result of suggestion:

• change of state;
• motivation for action.

Suggestion is involved in many spheres of society:

• medicine;
• psychology, psychiatry;
• Show Business;
• works of art, fiction, music;
• advertising;
• MASS MEDIA;
• jurisprudence;
• military structures;
• religion;
• policy;
• sport.

The suggestion is subdivided:

1. Autosuggestion is a self - hypnosis . Pronunciation of attitudes, affirmations, texts by a person to himself. Autogenic training .
2. Heterosuggestia is the influence of the suggestor (the one who inspires) on the sugerend (the one affected).

Suggestive abilities

Suggestive hypnosis is an effect directed at a person in order to immerse him in a special state of consciousness, in which the criticality decreases, the barriers are removed and the information penetrates directly into the subconscious. Suggestive abilities can be transmitted genetically (gypsy hypnosis), but like any talent suggestive abilities need to be developed. The qualities that a suggestor must possess in order to effectively influence and inspire:

• strong will;
• concentration;
• self-confidence;
• possession of self-regulation techniques;
• centered view;
• charm, charisma;
• intellectual superiority;
• tone, timbre, rhythm of speech, tuned in a certain way.

Suggestion and Counter-Suggestion

Suggestive methods of influence reduce the criticality of a person and give rise to a state of trust, especially in the crowd. A person becomes infected with other people's ideas, attitudes. In the course of history, people develop a protest feeling in response to manipulation, "separateness" and mistrust begin to increase, so counter-saturation is manifested - everything that is instilled at the state level, religion, the media is subject to internal criticism. Contrasuggestia grows out of distrust in disobedience. Positive aspects of counter-suggestion:

• the output of a particular person beyond the "we" of the group;
• the development of new traditions and norms in society, the way out of "stagnation."

Suggestion in Psychology

What is suggestion in psychology - most special teaching aids treat as a therapeutic effect on the psyche affecting emotions, perception. Actually, such directions of psychology are used by suggestion:

• psychosomatics;
• psychoanalysis;
• NLP.

Suggestive attitudes inspired by the therapist deeply penetrate the subconscious of the patient and positive effects are achieved:

• effective treatment of phobias, neuroses, depressions;
• getting rid of destructive habits (smoking, alcoholism)
• formation of new patterns.

Suggestive techniques in psychotherapy

In order for the suggestive method chosen specifically for a particular client or group of people to work as much as possible, a number of conditions are necessary:

1. A psychotherapist, credible and authoritative.
2. The compelling formula should be short, targeted, imperative.
3. The psychological state, individual age and characterological parameters of the client are taken into account.
4. Correspondence of the formula of suggestion to the purposes of therapy.

Suggestive techniques and methods are divided into:

• verbal;
• non-verbal.

The main or key in suggestion is the word. In V. Shefner's poem "Words", there are lines showing the power and strength of speech influence: "You can kill a word, you can save a word, in a word you can regiment behind a story!". The verbal techniques in psychotherapy include:

1. Suggestion in the waking state . The "father's" method presupposes imperative. The directive, demanding and authoritarian style of command prompting: "go!", "Act!", "You will do it!". "Maternal method" - a soft, enveloping patient calm: "Relax!", "Calm down!".
2. Suggestion during sleep . The therapist makes adjustments for the sleeper: he puts his hand on his forehead and speaks phrases then in slow, then at a fast pace, while watching the patient's breathing: if it changes, then the person is ready to be indoctrinated.
3. Hypnosuggestive techniques . The therapist causes the client to have a special dream-like state called hypnosis. During such a condition, control is removed, attention is reduced and it becomes possible to program therapeutic programs into the subconscious of the patient.
4. Autosuggestion . Hypnoautogenic training. Human consciousness is directed from external to internal processes by means of pronouncing formulas.

Non-verbal "wordless" techniques of suggestion:

1. Marking . Selection of a reference phrase with the addition of gestures and manipulation of objects.
2. Telepathy . Mental transmission of suggestion. The technique is based on the alignment of the biorhythms of the suggestor and the sugerend, requires a steady concentration and attention to the object, for this it is important to get into the image.

Suggestion in advertising

Any advertising is a manipulation by consciousness through influences on feelings and emotions of people. Specialists in the promotion of certain products, try to present the goods in such a way as to involve all the basic sensory systems of a person: sight, hearing, taste, tactile sensations. Suggestive advertising text uses keywords to influence and is supported by a vivid picture.

Suggestive techniques in advertising

Suggestive approach in advertising - the main types of impact:

1. Influence on emotional-figurative thinking . Merits of the goods are presented in a bright emotional "wrapper", which reduces criticality. Buying an apartment in a mortgage, a car on credit: "Have you ever cried with happiness?".
2. Text . Informing the population: "Do you want to become healthy / slender / strong?". There is an incentive for a person to take the goods of a particular firm.
3. Symbols . In advertising, this is a trademark - a logo. The image embodied in the symbol allows you to influence the emotions of a person and make the brand recognizable.
4. The slogan . A short motto of the company, aimed at introducing into the subconscious through the customer's values: "We care about each of you!"
5. Use a certain color palette . Colors are absorbed by the human nervous system by 80%, and only 20% is due to vision - this is because each color has a stereotyped value:

• yellow - sunny, warm, active;
• red - energy, drive, excitement;
• blue - trust, tranquility, relaxation;
• green - health, (used in advertising drugs);
• black - classic, authority.

Suggestion in the media

Suggestive techniques are actively used by television, broadcasting and in periodicals. The aim is to consolidate emotional reactions, certain socio-psychological behavior in society. Suggestive effect is achieved by influencing the motivational sphere. Often used negative news and events that cause fear and uncertainty in people, playing on feelings - it is easier to control society.

Suggestions in politics

Suggestive techniques are adopted by politicians. Modern political discourse (speech) uses such suggestive method as hedging - speech veiled influence on mass consciousness. Basic elements of hedging:

• appealing to accepted in the society traditions and values;
• abstract speech (minimum of specificity, vagueness of judgments);
• atypical grammatical constructions;
• detachment from speech, increased objectivity in statements.

Suggestions - books

Suggestive technologies in the literature:

1. "Hedging in political discourse" Osipov G.A. - describes the main methods of suggestion in politics.
2. "Manipulation of Mass Consciousness with the Media" Zelinsky SA - a book about what comes to a person through screens, newspapers, radio.
3. "Suggestion and its role in public life" VM Bekhterev. - Different views on the nature of suggestion.
4. "Encyclopedia of hypnosis" GA Goncharov. - types, techniques of suggestion in practice.
5. "Verbal suggestion" The team of authors. - Textbook on psychotherapy.