CHALLENGES

Successfully challenging a subject not only increases depth, but it eliminates the subject's desire to fight the hypnotic state. Instead, he escapes deeper into hypnosis. Almost any muscle or any emotion can be challenged. A rule to remember is to make sure that the subject reacts to the suggestions of tightening the muscle, or that he has built momentum for the emotional release, before you give the challenge. For example, with the eye challenge there should be movement in the eyes, indicating that your suggestion of tightness is working, before you issue the challenge. With the emotional challenge of laughing, wait until the body shows a reaction to laughing, such as spasmodic shivering or muscle movement, before giving the challenge.

Physical challenges increase physical suggestibility and depth and reinforce the subject's suggestibility to the hypnotist. The smaller the muscles, the easier they are to control, so always begin by challenging the smaller muscles. Then progress to the larger muscles, systematically increasing the physical suggestibility of the subject. The eye challenge and arm rigidity challenges are examples. To begin the eye challenge, tell the subject to sit back in the chair and close his eyes. Then begin with an unassailable fact that he can relate to:

                                   Your eyes are closed,

and then add,

                      And you feel your eyelids tightening.

Observe the reaction of the eyelids to see if they pull down and tighten. Issue the challenge only if they do. Never guess at this. Every challenge will work if you carefully observe the subject's reactions and act accordingly. Once you see the eyelids tighten, suggest the known again and then move into the challenge:

Now that your eyelids are tightening, they are stuck tight- ly closed and you cannot open them.

At this point, snap your fingers or raise your voice and say: You may try to open them. Then the reversal :

But the more you try, the tighter they become. And finally the reinforcement: You cannot open them.

The suggestion that the eyes will not open becomes the dominant suggestion, and the alternative becomes the weaker suggestion. At this point, say:

Tighter and tighter

in an authoritative voice. The subject will have a tendency to react to the word tighter and lose the thought of opening his eyes. Next say:

You can stop trying. They will not open.

Finally, suggest going deeper into hypnosis.

The arm rigidity challenge is most effective with an emotional subject the first time he is hypnotized, but with a physical subject it is equally effective the first time or at subsequent sessions.