James Braid
James Braid was a Scottish physician and surgeon, born on June 19, 1795, who is best known for his pioneering work in hypnotism and hypnotherapy. He is credited with coining the terms "neuro-hypnotism" and "hypnotism," establishing him as a foundational figure in the field. Braid initially trained as a surgeon and practiced in various locations, including Leadhills and Dumfries, before moving to Manchester, where he continued his medical career until his death in 1860. His interest in hypnotism was sparked by the demonstrations of mesmerism, leading him to explore and define a distinct understanding of hypnosis as a psychological state rather than a sleep-induced one.
Braid's significant contributions include the establishment of monoideism, a theory that emphasizes focused attention as key to achieving the hypnotic state. His first major work, "Neurypnology" (1843), highlighted the importance of visual and mental concentration for inducing hypnosis. Throughout his career, Braid published numerous articles and literature that advanced the understanding and application of hypnotism in therapeutic contexts. His influence extended to many medical practitioners of his time, and while "Braidism" was once synonymous with hypnotism, it has fallen out of common use today. Overall, Braid's legacy is marked by his role in laying the groundwork for hypnotism as a recognized field of study and practice.
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James Braid
- Born: June 19, 1795; Ryelaw House, Portmoak, Kinross, Scotland
- Died: March 25, 1860; Manchester, England
Overview
James Braid was a Scottish physician and surgeon who specialized in ocular and muscular conditions. He later pioneered hypnotism and hypnotherapy, and he coined the English words “neuro-hypnotism” (“nervous sleep”) and “hypnotism,” from which the term “hypnosis” was later derived. Braid is often regarded as the first genuine hypnotherapist. In addition to being noted for his work in hypnosis, Braid was a practicing surgeon. He was an apprentice to a father-and-son pair of surgeons (both named Charles Anderson). He also attended the University of Edinburgh from 1812 to 1814. He obtained a diploma from the Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of the City of Edinburgh in 1815, which promoted him from Fellow to a Member of the College. He became a surgeon in Leadhills, Lanarkshire, and later set up a private practice in Dumfries. Braid moved to Manchester, England, in 1828 and practiced medicine there until his death.
In 1841, after observing the work of traveling mesmerist Charles Lafontaine, Braid found that mesmerized persons demonstrated an altered physical state. Lafontaine was practicing Mesmerism, or “animal magnetism,” which was based on the work of Franz Mesmer. Braid later claimed his own discovery of the psycho-physiological mechanism underlying the altered state, and he went on to give widespread public lectures on the subject.
Braid based his practice on Mesmerism, but his theory differed from the originators as to how the procedure worked. Braid initially based his findings on the theory that the hypnotic state was sleep-induced. However, after discovering phases of hypnosis, such as catalepsy, anesthesia, and amnesia, could be induced without sleep, Braid later changed his sleep-based physiological theory to a psychological one that concentrated on a single item or idea. He thus renamed the theory monoideism in 1847. Braid felt this name change more accurately represented the state of focused attention and the heightened susceptibility to suggestion that hypnosis induces.
During his lifetime, Braid published many articles, booklets, and other pieces of literature primarily focused on various aspects of hypnotism. In his first major publication, Neurypnology: Or, the Rationale of Nervous Sleep, Considered in Relation with Animal Magnetism (1843), he reported the importance of both visual and mental concentration for successful transition to the altered physiological state. He asserted that the continued fixation of both aspects of concentration served to induce a natural physiological mechanism that existed in human beings.
Braid’s career strongly influenced a number of medical figures. Also of note, the term “Braidism” has been used as a synonym for “hypnotism,” although it is rarely used in modern times. Braid's legacy lay in his pioneering of the field of hypnotism, coining the terminology used in the field, and promoting therapeutic applications of hypnotism.
Bibliography
Braid, James. Neurypnology: Or, the Rationale of Nervous Sleep, Considered in Relation with Animal Magnetism. 1843. Reprint. Classics of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Library, 1994.
"James Braid: The Pioneer of Scientific Hypnosis." Brazilian Society of Hypnosis, 14 Aug. 2024, www.hipnose.com.br/en/blog/hypnosis/james-braid/. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.
Kravis, N. M. "James Braid’s Psychophysiology: A Turning Point in the History of Dynamic Psychiatry." American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 145, no. 10, 1988, pp. 1191–206.
McMurray, Stephen. "James Braid the Father of Modern Hypnosis." The Edinburgh Reporter, 2 Jan. 2022, theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2022/01/james-braid-the-father-of-modern-hypnosis/. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024.
Robertson, Donald, and Michael Heap, editors. The Discovery of Hypnosis: Complete Writings of James Braid, the Father of Hypnotherapy. National Council for Hypnotherapy, 2008.