In this chapter some simple practical examples are given which allow the reader to explore in person and
with others some of the obvious things about the way in which the mind and body work. In particular
attention is a drawn to the way in which activity in one part or subsystem of the brain can lead quite
naturally, but usually in a little time, to activity in another part. But the speed and quality of the response
varies from person to person.

The question of what kind of meaning such an exploration gives is left open. There are a wide variety of interpretation schemes which you will find: I simply urge you to keep at least TWO such possibilities in mind so that you are less likely to jump to unjustifiable conclusions. Sometimes the asking of questions will help to resolve a conflict between two interpretations.

In this chapter for the first time we will meet some processes which have been passed down the years as being ways of producing some dramatic changes in the functioning of people. These are what have been called "hypnotic inductions". We start with a close look at an induction used by James Braid, the father of hypnotism. Then some others, again from well-known names in the history of our subject, are given more briefly for you to try.

Posthypnotic suggestions are a large part of what people regard as typical of hypnosis. We start by
comparing it with the common phenomenon of social compliance: the fact that people quite normally
will do what another asks them to do. A description of a subject (Nobel Prizewinner Richard Feynman) is
used to illustrate what it feels like to carry out a post hypnotic suggestion. Both phenomena are based on
establishing a causal connection between two subsystems of the brain.

Some exercises are suggested for you to find out how easy it is under ordinary conditions to establish
such a causal connection between two subsystems of the brain, so that you can (as in the previous
chapter) later compare the ease of doing the same after a preliminary induction.

However this matter is complicated by the fact that the brain consists of very many subsystems and we may consider each to be capable of independent attention, or arousal. To explore this exercises are given aiming at maintaining the attention of just one subsystem (in this case that connected to fingers) while conscious attention subsides.

We focus on high-order mental systems: those which determine whether to accept or reject statements
made by another. The ability to reduce the resistance and increase rapport is an important part of
hypnosis. This highly practical chapter gives exercises which take the form of two-person games which
may be used to increase your skills in this way. We run through making impersonal statements;
statements about yourself and then personal statements about another person: all in an everyday setting.
Then, in a more "hypnotic" setting, we practise making every statement of an induction totally acceptable
and then a series of personal suggestions acceptable.

The question of the difference between the system of active resistance and active rapport is discussed. No
specific exercises are given for building up the latter: though you can find out by asking a few extra
questions after the previous exercises how well you are doing. It is suggested that high levels of rapport
depend on being good at hypnosis, on being honest to yourself, but on top of that there seem to be some
innate characteristics that will make rapport between yourself and certain other people arise naturally.

The main lessons are summarised. And then the rest of the chapter is directed at giving you a variety of
goals - changes that you might make in a subject - in order to practice and expand on what you have
learned. Many of these are accompanied by hints on how to go about them. The advantages of writing
out scripts for yourself at this stage are presented.