So what do people think about this program and the ethical implications of pulling the wool over somebody's eyes "Truman Show" style? For a different perspective, it has recently been revealed (read: alleged) that the victim of Brown's latest show is in fact an actor, and this isn't the first time that he has been accused of using actors for his theatrics. Opinions?
Some interesting research compared people who were being hypnotised with people who were told to pretend that they were being hypnotised. Both groups had never been hypnotised before. To the observer they behaved exactly the same. Turns out everybody has a pretty good notion of what a hypnotised person is "supposed" to behave like. Which raises the interesting question: when someone is being hypnotised, are they really under hypnosis or do they just believe they are? Is that special state of suggestion in fact auto-suggestion? Colleagues I speak to about this say that a client's expectations are pretty much central to the experience and effectiveness of this technique. On the few occasions that I use it (usually for pain or nausea control) I find that it is more effective when I present it with a certain, well, mystique. Same for EMDR which I've used a couple of times for PTSD. People cannot be hypnotised if they don't want to be --unless you resort to nasty brainwashing techniques that mess with the state of consciousness such as sleep or sensory deprivation, starvation, dehydration, drugs etc. Neither will a person do under hypnosis what they wouldn't do normally. People cannot be "kept under"; they can choose to get up and walk away any time they want. When people act like chickens in stage hypnosis it's because there is a powerful expectation and hence predisposition that this is what will happen, what it will be like. After all when we go to see a movie, we expect to be moved also --we choose to suspend disbelief, get sucked into the story and feel excited, scared, tense, aroused, angry, upset, amused. Wouldn't be a good movie if we didn't. Same with stage hypnosis. We want the show, and the experience. So we roll with it.
Assuming what he's done is true - aka no actor - I did question the ethics of it. Who is Derren Brown to pick a random person for having a crap life and then try and "fix"? Whether he is right or wrong about it, I think it is very holier than thou to be doing such a thing. I normally like Derren's stuff but this one did make me pause for thought. I'd be surprised if the guy is an actor as well - that's not Derren's bag at all.
I was told about this and decided to watch it on catch up tv. I think there is a bit too much TV in the whole thing, Lots of suspicious camera angles and plenty of audio editing/dubbing. Gives me the feeling there is plenty of ********. He is trying to prove that people will believe anything they see under certain circumstances (the guy who is the subject). I believe he is in fact doing so, But to people who believe TV shows that are presented in this manner (the target audience).
So basically you don't think the guy is acting, but he is compliant in an indirect sort of way? That's an interesting take fo sho. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if Derren uses actors - he's an illusionist after all, meaning he appears to do stuff rather than actually does it. There's no denying the guy has a very comprehensive working knowledge of psychology, but he's got the same irritating smarmy streak that is peculiar to most other illusionists and tricksters: he's good at what he does, he knows it, and he knows people will most likely buy into it.
We had a hypnotist entertainer do a show here during the freshers week last and he said that people who are sceptical are actually easier to hypnotise. What you say makes complete sense to me though. Another typical EC tangent: Hypnosis is probably easier than most people realise: having sat in front of a TV screen showing random patterns for a good portion of an hour as part of a medical test, I was amazed by how quickly my eyes just stopped working and I just started seeing things. A nice little demonstration of this is finding the blind-spot in your eye. The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sacks is worth a read if you're interested in the neurology of vision.
As always, consent will have been obtained from the participant (even if he did not know exactly what to expect, he will have been told hypnosis and appearing in that state on TV would be involved). Or do you think Derren Brown's or Channel 4's legal team wouldn't have cried: "Litigation risk!"? Well, he would say that, would he? Think about it.
I wonder how many of the religious prophets of the past were the Derren Browns of their day? People who had a natural affinity towards psychology and used it to manipulate people or spread their message. If you read any Machiavelli it's apparent that he just understood human behaviour. Nexxo = Bit's Machiavelli. I have been told that we enter the hypnotic state all the time with out realising it. Those moments when you realise you have spent the last 20 minutes driving with out really paying attention but have successfully negotiated junctions and round abouts is a good example.
I can get on board with that idea. I've often questioned the autopilot driving phenomenon myself, it's most bizarre, and just about rare enough to be a mystery - yet we've all done it.
Derren Brown is all about slight of hand, all of his specials up to this point show that. The one he did a good while ago where he put people in a blacked out bus, and had them driven from point A to the place the show was being done - And then asked a cabbie what route he'd take for the same journey - And it just happened to match? I firmly believe that all his "stunts" are meticulously planned, prepared for, and coached. The one where he "hypnotised" a guy playing a zombie game, and carted the "victim" to a building with a room set up as an exact copy of where he was in the game and gave him a paintball gun - But the guy goes hysterical and doesn't shoot the (unprotected) zombies in the face? No legal team in the world would let him do that without either: The "victim" being a dead cert for not shooting the paintball gun, or going batshit and physically clubbing people with it. Or The "zombies" wearing face protection at the very least. Don't get me wrong, though, I enjoy watching his specials - But I have no doubt that everything is done within the boundaries of the law, ethics, and television standards.
The best Derren Brown show was where he told someone the 6 winners in 6 horse races. but the best bit was showing how he did it, he had over 45k people taking part independently and unaware of the others to cover each eventuality. Progressively filming more of them as stayed in winning groups till he ended up with the one person who by chance had been given all the correct winners. what that show really tells you is that with all of these types of programs its not what is shown that's important, its all the bits that end up on the cutting room floor.
Not really what I was angling at. I realise there is consent involved - it's more the apparent judgement of his life that Derren Brown has that I question. Whether he is right or wrong, what leg does he have to stand on to go and "sort it out"? The thing that made me laugh was the image of his mother getting all upset that he was an arse to her and the family - there are only two people to blame for that, and that's the parents themselves. Continually accepting that sort of behaviour from him would have only served as a breeding ground for more of it.
The leg that the participant has asked him to. I'm sure that the recruitment campaign and consent form for this program asked: "Do you want to take part in a potentially life-changing experience? Something that makes you re-examine the way you have lived your life and brings you in touch with your true dreams an potential? Please read on... etc.". The same goes for me (as a clinical psychologist). I do not stand in judgement over my clients' lives and I do not "sort it out" for them. I offer them a safe, reflective space for them to examine their life for themselves and make whatever changes for the better they want to make to it. It is up to them to decide whether they want to sort it out and how. I only offer the workshop and the tools.
No, that would be Spec. Keep in mind that it always takes two to tango. For every prophet there are people looking for someone to follow. The hypnotic state is just daydreaming.
it isn't good viewing but DB says he's parodying real life and then gullibility of people to hypnotic influences such as the mass media. I don;t enjoy watching it but it really is no different to watching Microsoft CEO "Steve" Ballmer prancing around on stage at their AGM. By shedding a light on it at least people have a chance of realising how they could be duped. Of course this is all in my humble opinion.
Derren RISKED this man's sanity, for a tv show. No number of 'psychiatrists' can predict how LEARNING THAT YOUR FAMILY MIGHT VERY WELL BE DEAD, will affect the mind.
