Suggestion
Suggestion (Medicine)
Suggestion (pronounced suh-jes-chuhn) is a psychological term used in both clinical and experimental fields of medicine. It refers to the process by which one's thoughts or behaviors are influenced by the ideas or actions of others. In a medical context, it is often used in relation to psychotherapy and hypnosis.
Etymology
The term 'suggestion' originates from the Latin word 'suggestio', which means 'to bring to mind'. It was first used in a psychological context in the late 19th century by French psychologist Pierre Janet.
Related Terms
- Auto-suggestion: A psychological technique related to the placebo effect. It is a form of self-induced suggestion where individuals guide their own thoughts, feelings, or behavior.
- Hypnosis: A state of human consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion.
- Placebo effect: A beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment.
- Psychotherapy: The use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior and overcome problems in desired ways.
In Medicine
In medicine, suggestion can be used as a therapeutic tool, particularly in the field of psychotherapy. Therapists may use suggestion to help patients change harmful behaviors or cope with mental health disorders. For example, a therapist might use suggestion to help a patient with anxiety disorder to reduce their feelings of anxiety.
Suggestion is also a key component of hypnosis. During hypnosis, a person is said to have heightened focus and concentration. The person can concentrate intensely on a specific thought or memory, while blocking out sources of distraction. Hypnotists use this state to suggest ideas, concepts, and lifestyle adaptations to the patient, the changes that the patient wants to make are much more likely to take effect.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Suggestion
- Wikipedia's article - Suggestion
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