Possibly no single aspect of hypnosis has been more controversial in
the past than the relation of volition to hypnosis. Superficial examina-
tion of hypnotic phenomena would tend to lead to the belief that a
subject can be forced to do anything by the hypnotist. For many
years, indeed, this was a common conception, even among hypnotists
of standing. Not only was it thought that in hypnosis the subject's
will is entirely subjugated to that of the hypnotist, but also many inves-
tigators of old advocated that the induction of a trance was nothing
more than the imposition of the hypnotist's will over that of the subject.
Consequently, many of the older treatments of hypnotic technique
contain special sections on the art of developing will power and concen-
trating the will, including various exercises. This particular viewpoint
appears to be tied up with a belief that some sort of telepathic rapport
is created between the subject and the hypnotist. Setting this last
question aside, we see that certainly more than will is involved in the
induction of hypnosis. A little reflection would have revealed to even
early investigators that this was true, since neither mesmerism nor
Braidism involve in any manner the question of willing the subject to
sleep. Historically speaking, this latter view appears to be a relatively
recent development.

There seems to be hardly any need for discussing this particular
aspect any further. All available modern data on hypnosis show
clearly that any theory advocating that hypnosis is an imposition of the
operator's will on that of the subject is obsolete. The best refutation
of this theory lies in the efficacity of modern techniques for the induc-
tion of hypnosis. These techniques show no evidence of being de-
pendent on the relative will power of subject or the hypnotist, and
even less on any mysterious extrasensory influence.

There are, however, three admissible questions that fall under the
topic of the relation of the will to hypnosis: (a) Can a person be
hypnotized against his wishes; (b) can an individual be hypnotized
without his knowledge of this (but not necessarily against his wish);

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