Let’s stop saying “I’ve never met anyone who couldn’t be hypnotized.”
I was having some tea—too much caffeine at night is bad—and I came across some texts that are as interesting as they are dull. As usual, I won’t say who wrote it or post the screenshot with the name crossed out; that would get more likes, but we don’t want a witch hunt, do we?
Basically, this let’s say anonymous text stated: “Oh, if the subject isn’t hypnotized, don’t blame their mental health issues (ADHD, etc.).” In other words, it’s not the neurotype’s fault, but the hypnotist’s—and that they’ve never met someone who isn’t hypnotizable.
Although most of the time the problem is the hypnotist, there’s still that small percentage left. That deviation from the curve. That outlier—which is why doctors speak in percentages, in a range of probabilities. Someone resistant, who won’t lower their defenses, who is afraid, who doesn’t want to let go.
Essentially, they decide it’s better and more ethical to blame the hypnotist. And while that’s usually true, there’s an issue with your ego in there—that you’re the hero who saves the lost llama that couldn’t go into trance. Who do you think you are, that you must save the subject?
Is the hypnotist a hero? Personally, I’ve never felt like one—quite the opposite, actually—but if I can say something: the problem isn’t the diagnosis.
But it’s not the hypnotist’s omnipotence either.
Hypnosis doesn’t fail because of the subject’s mind, nor is it guaranteed by the operator’s skill.
It fails—or happens—in the relationship.
That idea of a messianic hypnotist who always achieves a stable trance in their subjects without constant micro-adjustments and who comes out of the session revitalized and happy is a myth.
Hypnosis isn’t a spell that works in a vacuum. It needs something key: rapport. Connection. Trust.
No one surrenders to a vulnerable state unless there is at least some connection with the guide.
In person, this is woven through tone of voice, eye contact, body language, and real‑time adaptation. It’s a dance, not a monologue.
Sometimes, trust isn’t the main focus. That’s where another ingredient comes in: expectation and authority. Fame, reputation, ritual. A respected hypnotist can facilitate trance simply through the weight of what is expected of them.
And then there’s the third pillar, the most subtle: feedback. A good hypnotist reads micro‑signals (breathing, blinking, muscle tension) and adjusts their rhythm and words in real time. That’s why it’s easier to hypnotize in person than over video call, and much easier than over text. A text can’t dance with you.
So before we declare “everyone is hypnotizable,” let’s ask: What are we calling hypnosis?
Humans are bad at defining subjective experiences. If by “hypnosis” we mean someone following a simple suggestion (“your eyelids are getting heavy”), then maybe yes, everyone can. But if we’re talking about deep trance, amnesia, hallucinations… that’s another story.
The phrase “I’ve never met someone who couldn’t be hypnotized” usually comes from someone who:
– Only works in ideal settings (workshops, pre‑selected volunteers).
– Defines “hypnosis” so broadly that any response counts as success.
– Or ignores the failures (confirmation bias, ever present).
It’s not a superpower. It’s a game of cooperative influence and, like any game, it depends on the rules, the players, and the environment.
Hypnosis is probabilistic, not deterministic. It depends on:
– The subject: their suggestibility, their mental state that day, their real willingness to let go. – The hypnotist: their skill, their charisma, their ability to adapt. – The context: privacy, safety, ritual, expectations.
Not everyone wants to drop in. Not everyone can, at that moment, with that person, in that place. And that’s okay.
The “infallible” hypnotist probably only dances with those who already wanted to dance. And that says more about the setup than the power.
