Does Forensic Hypnosis Exist?
Often associated with magicians and after dinner entertainments,
hypnosis has come a long way. The practice of hypnosis had evolved into a
clinical tool that has frequently been
used for therapeutic purposes. The police in law enforcement are also using
hypnosis, as a tool. Forensic hypnosis aids investigating officers by providing
vital clues and details upon which further investigation can be carried out.
However, as the information obtained through hypnosis cannot be assumed to be
entirely correct, there needs to be proper validation and examination of the
information for its accuracy.
What is forensic hypnosis?
Forensic hypnosis can be termed as the use of hypnotherapy in law
enforcement. In general, forensic hypnotists recover important memories or
details of an event from witnesses and victims. As the victims or the witnesses
lose the ability to recall important events due to fear, shock, and
posttraumatic effect, forensic hypnosis works as a tool in enhancing the recall
of witnesses and victims.
Forensic hypnosis can be used in any investigation that requires recalling a memory from the subconscious mind. It might be helpful in cases such as rape,
child abuse, theft, vandalism, robbery, assault, murder, accident reconstruction,
and many other cases.
Opposition to Forensic
Hypnosis
The most widely asked question about the use of hypnosis in the
field of law enforcement is its impact. Critics often point to the fact that
hypnotism is known to create false memories that might have a negative effect
on the investigation. Hypnosis is also criticized for inducing a stage of
suggestibility, thereby making the subject more impressionable to the
hypnotist.
Contrary to the wide opposition to the use of hypnotism in the police investigation, there is general agreement that hypnosis can be useful
in investigations. There has been a worldwide debate in relying on information
obtained through forensic hypnosis by recalling the memory of witnesses and victims, and their presentation in the court of law. The supporters of forensic
hypnosis argue that hypnosis testimony should be allowed on a case-by-case
basis.
In order to safeguard ethical and professional practices in forensic
hypnosis, the International Society for International and Forensic Hypnosis was
established.
Safeguards for Forensic
Hypnosis
To ensure that information obtained through forensic hypnosis is not
put to waste, the following points must be adhered to:
·
A trained, certified, and
independent hypnotist must carry out forensic hypnosis.
·
The subject must give his/her
consent to forensic hypnosis.
·
The entire hypnosis session
should be recorded on tape (audio and video).
·
The hypnosis session should
only have the hypnotist and the subject.
·
Hypnotist must avoid asking
leading questions, and try not to create false memories.
Conclusion
Forensic hypnosis is a controversial and challenging area. It has
been under constant scrutiny from courts and scientific community. Despite its
many challenges, forensic hypnosis continues to be used for investigative
purposes.
When conducted by a trained hypnotist under procedural guidelines
and ethical procedures, forensic hypnosis can aid investigating officers and
help provide leads to a case. A tricky area, a hypnotist,
must not lead the witness using questions or statements.
