The Society for Psychical Research (both the British and the American societies) were keenly interested in hypnosis, suggestion, somnambulism, mesmerism, electro-biology, and the "thought-reading" that often occurs between a mesmerist and his subject. Albert Moll (Hypnotism: Including a Study of ... Read More

The Nancy School held that hypnosis and hysteria are unrelated, contrary to the Paris School, which held that hypnosis is pathological and weakens the nervous system. The Nancy school prevailed, and the ideas and techniques of Liebeault and Bernheim quickly spread across Europe and beyond. Alb... Read More

German scientists called 1880-1890 the “decade of hypnotism.” Christina Fritsche & Frank Ortmann ("William Preyer's Contributions to the Scientific Study of Hypnosis in Germany," Contributions to a History of Developmental Psychology, 1985) wrote … "In the form of 'suggestion theory,' hy... Read More

Dr. Liebeault is known as the "father of modern hypnotherapy." He was the founder of a hypnosis-centered school of psychotherapy in Nancy, France, eventually called the "Nancy School" ("Suggestion School of Hypnosis") after his collaboration with Dr. Bernheim. Dr. Charcot is known as the "Napo... Read More

Mesmerism became popular in America, shortly after the American and French revolutions, especially in Louisiana. The Daily Picayune (July, 1843) declared that "the city [of New Orleans] at the present time is in a perfect state of Mesmerism." Albert Moll (Hypnotism: Including a Study of the Ch... Read More