Where Does Suggestibility Come From?

Photo courtesy of iCLIPART

Words, tone of voice and body language influence suggestibility
from a very young age.

As I described in my previous blog (“Emotional and Physical Suggestibility,” 12/27/13), “suggestibility” refers to how we learn and process information. According to Hypnosis Motivation Founder John G. Kappas, Ph.D., we get our early suggestibility from how the primary caretaker (usually the mother) takes care of and interacts with us during early childhood (birth up to age 5). Words, tone of voice and body language create suggestibility, he explains.

For example, Mom says, “Clean your room, and then you can go out and play.” The physically suggestible child learns that Mom says what she means and means what she says: there will be no playtime until the room is clean. However, if Mom is inconsistent and does not always mean what she says or say what she means, the child learns by inference and will develop physical suggestibility. For example, Mom does not follow through with her demand that the child finish cleaning his room before being allowed to play: he fusses and cries until she finally relents and allows him to go outside to play. This child will develop emotional suggestibility. He will learn by inference and metaphor, constantly looking for hidden messages or meanings in each interaction or experience: “I know what you said; what did you mean?”

Although the primary caretaker is very influential in terms of developing a child’s suggestibility, other people in the youngster’s life also influence this learning process. Peers, teachers and others impact the child’s suggestibility between the ages 6 to 9. Children also become more critical and discerning from age 8, Kappas advises. Between ages 9 to 14, the secondary caretaker (usually father) also influences the child’s suggestibility.

 Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy®, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.