Chinese white-collar workers turn to hypnotists for help

"A person can enter another person's dreams for a few minutes just to spy on the other's private life or to implant new memories." This is the plot of the current popular movie "Inception." In fact, such "dream thieves" also exist in the real world. They are hypnotists. Although they do not have miraculous powers like in the movie, many white collar workers with high stress are their frequenters.

The number of white-collar workers who want to experience hypnotism sharply increased along with the popularity of "Inception." According to sources, the most expensive "dream thief" in Guangzhou is priced at 6,000 yuan per hour.

Hypnogenesis and dreams became extremely popular among a large number of white-collar workers because of the popularity of the movie "Inception." Meanwhile, various hypnosis courses, generally lasting from one month to three months and priced from 600 yuan to 8,000 yuan, also increased. Some courses were even advertised under the signboard of certain well-known medical universities.

"Schedules of hypnotists are basically full in recent weeks. Many principles of the movie are actually hypnogenesis," said Xiao Yuhe, a psychologist from Taiwan region.

Most frequenters of hypnotists are white-collar workers between 20 and 40 years old. Work and emotion are their two major topics of concern. Xiao analyzed that as many white-collar workers live under high stress, hypnotic therapy has become a good method to reduce stress. Of course, there are also many who are merely curious.

"Hypnogenesis is not sleep like many people think. The unconsciousness does not mean that the hypnotic subject will answer everything and hypnotists can ask anything," Xiao said. Hypnogenesis is to communicate with your subconscious mind and everyone has a psychological defense mechanism. Therefore, the hypnotic subject will be awakened when his or her bottom line is touched.

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of hypnogenesis, namely traditional hypnogenesis and natural hypnogenesis. The traditional hypnogenesis is guided by others while people may experience natural hypnogenesis every day.

"Being absent-minded in class or being in a daze in a coffee shop are all forms of hypnogenesis to a certain degree," Xiao said.

Advertisements are actually a kind of natural hypnogenesis as well. It imperceptibly enters into your subconscious mind to make you think of this product when you go shopping.

By People's Daily Online