Martin makes his living doing hypnotism shows, lecturing on the subject and acting as a hypnotism consultant for companies such as Paramount Pictures. Yet he openly admits that he doesn't believe hypnotism actually exists. Then what is going on?
To Martin it is a "complicated cocktail of ideas" whose chief ingredients are suggestion, peer pressure and obedience. The peer pressure became apparent as throughout his career Martin observed that hypnotism shows work better the larger the audience. Whilst suggestion and obedience work together in a hypnotic combination that consists of, as Martin puts it, "my confidence and the expectation that that's what they're supposed to do."
Martin also outlined the many different people who have a vested interest in hypnotism existing. From hypnotherapists who have spent lots of time and money getting qualified to stage magicians making a living from it. To be fair, Martin was asked if he ever encountered a stage hypnotist who actually believed in hypnotism - "Yes! All of them!" was his reply, suggesting that the vast majority of hypnotism's proponents are not deliberately misleading the public. Even if they might be engaging in some degree of self serving delusion.
Certainly, the general public's belief hypnotism exists gives it a great deal of power. With hypnotism being used in personal therapy and increasingly for pain control is it such a bad thing if it doesn't exist as long as it's relieving suffering? We have lots of evidence of the placebo effect and, surely, hypnotism would seem to be just one more such example. Perhaps the problem with hypnotism is that it credits mumbo-jumbo with affecting real change when it's actually the subject of the hypnotism who is really empowering their own change. Maybe if they were aware of the potential within themselves for affecting change then they wouldn't need hypnotism in the first place to give up smoking, face their phobias or overcome a traumatic past? Nice rational words to type out on a blog. But in the real world, to those desperate enough to turn to hypnotism I doubt it really matters.
Back at the North End Social Club, Martin had been trying out a few techniques on some of the audience. One regular found himself in the disconcerting position of finding his fingers stuck together - good excuse to avoid your round of drinks, though. Then he couldn't speak without permission. I'll rise above the 'Er Indoors' gags, because I'm better than that.
To end the evening with a flourish, Martin proved that a staple of hypnotism acts - supporting another's body weight with your own torso whilst lying across 2 chairs - can be done by any fit adult.
Unfortunately, my blog reporting commitments and an old wound from my days street fighting fascists in the 1980s meant I was unable to offer up my steely physique. But luckily, an equally able volunteer was found.
Martin's talk was a superb mixture of psychological lecture and outright showmanship. You know you're in the company of a classy gent when he has to check he hasn't left his monocle behind before leaving.
NEXT MONTH: We get cracking with fracking as geologist Hazel Gibson gives us three different perspectives on the subject. Thursday 21st August - 7:30pm - The North End Social Club. Full Details
HERE.
