The Power of Suggestion

[China Doll]

Evening All,

So how powerful is the power of suggestion?

I'm thinking of examples such as those in some (un-named in the interest of non-bias) newspapers where the journalistic integrity is questionable to say the least. In religion where we see examples of people speaking in tongues, laying of hands and that sort of ilk.

How easily do you think the human psyche is influenced? Are some more influencd than others? Is the power of suggestion ever a good thing?

Just a thought stemming from a thread in R&S.

Cheers
China.

[{Dakota}]

Hoping I don't make an arse of myself here........but my opinion is that suggesstion is only as powerful as you let it be. When it was suggested that Beckham had an affair with Rebecca Loos, then maybe people were willing to believe it readily to dissaparate the image of the 'perfect' marriage with Posh and Becks. (it was the first tabloid story to pop into my head, sorry!)

When suggestion is made in religious circles, then those people who are believing it are so deep into the religious way of life, then why on earth WOULD they disbelieve it?

I'd just like to add that only having recently discovered what on earth speaking in tongues is, my last paragraph is just my opinion based on what I just saw and I don't intend any offence to anyone :0)

[Oneeyedvic]

Interesting topic.

I really don't believe in Reiki healing - however, my wife recently had problems with her feet - so much so that she couldn't actually walk for medium distances (over 500 yards) with being in pain. We had been to the hospital and also to a chiropractor with it - but not much help. We then went to an alternative person - who appeared to do very little - some minor adjustments etc. Nothing much happened straight away (as we both suspected) but the following day my wife was a lot better - so much so that she danced around the lounge.

Something else of note is that my wife mentioned during the manipulations "your hands have become hot" - not knowing anything about reiki so she couldn't have been susceptible to feeling something that she did not expect.

Very weird.

With regards tabloids etc, you only have to go to a few threads in News section and you can still see people arguing things like Charles de Menezes (the Brazilian who was innocently shot at Stockwell) vaulted over barriers and was acting guilty, not to mention the amount of posts who state "There is no smoke without fire".

[naomi24]

Morning China. Many people are easily influenced, especially by the media, and certain newspapers in particular. Like some religious organisations, they aim to whip up a fervour among the faithful, and they very often succeed.

I think Luna is right in saying that the power of suggestion can be a good thing in some instances, but where religion and politics are concerned, it is not. I believe that the power of suggestion in both those areas can actually cause some people to lose the ability to rationalise, and it can, and does, result in brainwashing.

Some are, without doubt, more easily influenced than others. Unquestioning acceptance of another's opinion results from a lack of self-esteem leading to a need to be accepted within a certain group - and at the risk of being hung, drawn and quartered, I believe those who are easily influenced are generally less well educated than those who have the ability to examine a question from all aspects, and regardless of majority view, if they genuinely believe their findings are correct, have the courage to maintain their own opinions.

[Theland1]

It is very powerful indeed. Another aspect of it is how we relate to other people.
For example, in recent years, I made a more conscious effort to smile and say hello to people, even when I was feeling down, and then made a point of trying to remember their first names, plus a bit of info about them, so that I could ask a bit of a personal question about them, such as, "Did you get your car fixed? / How is your son? / Are your kids settled into the new school etc etc, in fact anything to make them feel that they were important to me.
Two things happened, first of all, I felt a true warmth and friendship develop, and secondly, what started out as me consciously acting something out to disguise my own lack of confidence, in fact boosted my confidence, and led me to begin feeling more empathy towards other people.
I think that this was the power of suggestion, and SELF suggestion, and although not a 'cure all', it certainly helped me.
My family sometimes laugh and say, "You seem to know everybody. It seems that way to me too.

[China Doll]

Some interesting thougths there and not unlike my own.

I'm going to take issues with a couple of things you stated Naomi. While I have some sympathy to the less educated viewpoint you mentioned I'm not sure you're completely right there. For example, you can be a very educated person with a hang up about one thing. Your body image maybe as an example off the top of my head, that being the case, surely it doesn't matter how educated you are because if you have this one flaw in your psyche then whatever advert for cosmetics or all those magazine articles telling you what you should and shouldn't be are really going to effect you aren't they?

The other thing you mentioned was it not being a good thing with regards to religion. Now I know you're aware of my own religious tendencies so I may be playing devils advocate a little here but what about the power of prayer? There is certainly some argument about the great influence over how much prayer has helped people through difficult times and in need. (I'll happily give my own view point on this a bit later if you like).

Now at what point the the power of suggestion become brain washing? Does anyone remember that documentry on how a state of panic was created here and in America? (I think it was called something about nightmares but I can't remember)

[123everton]

News papers (Daily Mail et al) have an editorial stance this is in order to court a reaction, good news does'nt sell. So when the Daily Mail tells us house prices are going to crash witless people will go into a frenzy forgetting that earlier the same paper was saying that house prices were going to soar and it was all the fault of IMMIGRANTS.
The power of suggestion is strong (and we're all influenced by something or someone) Rheinhard Spitzy, Mengele, (and hundreds of thousands of others) followed Hiler into the abyss singing loudly (Spitzy is still loyal) these were'nt "thick" people. All analogies are flawed and I'm minded more towards Orwell's "Animal Farm" to explain the phenoma. I once read an answer by a regular R&S contributor a free thinking atheist no less about Irma Greiser they read the link and blindly repeated what it said eg "blood thirsty jewesses" who influenced that person? They're not on this thread, right now.
There is an irony in all this, I identify myself as a Christian but I believe in reincarnation (not going into it now) when I expressed this in R&S I was told that means I can't be a Christian.
Who was influencing them?
I don't fit into their idea of a Christian, ergo I'm not, I believe Christ is the son of God (who influenced me?) but I believe if you wanted to go back to Earth and help creation why would God stop you? Who influenced me?
If you're a parent you influence your children all the time you have to teach them something, it's better to teach them something you believe in and practice. Hopefully it's not a divisive ideology.

[naomi24]

China I'll agree that the educated can and do have their personal hang ups, and can be influenced in what they buy by the media and by advertising - you only have to look in my dressing table drawers at all the lotions and potions to see that! (Oh, we live in hope!). However, I doubt their politics or religion will be very much influenced by it because they will usually consider the alternatives and weigh up the pros and cons. Tabloids don't hold much sway for them, whereas others will believe anything the Sun tells them.

The power of prayer can be very strong indeed, but I would say that any positive results emanating from it are brought about by self-suggestion. However you do it, whether it be talking to a God, or finding an inner personal calm and thinking rationally and quietly for a few moments, the real benefit comes from talking yourself up.

At what point does the power of suggestion become brainwashing? I can only say it's when it achieves the removal of a subject's desire to rationally consider other alternatives.

Everton I thought you were in China for three weeks? How was it, anyway?

[Octavius]

I think I just had a complete misunderstanding of that final sentence naomi. Apologies all round for any embarrassment caused.

[Gromit]

Suggestion and manipulation are the same thing. We should guard against it. Leaving out inconvenient facts or exaggerating others are all tools of the manipulators.

Some people still think there are WMDs in Iraq and we just haven't found them.

Some people are more easily fooled than others.

[China Doll]

But what about the placebo effect that can and does work on some patients? Is that a bad suggestion would you say?

[naomi24]

Octavius, I noticed that the minute I pressed 'submit'. I was hoping no one else would - but I might have known the hope was a futile one! :o)

[Theland1]

Classic!

[Theland1]

Now had it been minutes, ............ ?

[123everton]

2 weeks in Nanning and then a week to attend to any matters outstanding at home and pass on presents, show photos etc. I'm back in the swing of things, back in work and making arrangements to go back for Chinese New Year.
It was excellent by the way, I was made so welcome by everyone, the wedding was something else 400 people at the reception and a 10 course banquet for each table and me at the top table pomboying and gomboying for all I'm worth.
Alot of wedding traditions they have are similar to ours, some are completely different but getting the bed blessed by babies I honestly think could catch on here.
I would reccomend it (I'll use opodo next time) to anyone but maybe not Nanning as there did'nt seem a huge amount there for the tourist whereas Guilin down the road seems to have plenty, maybe next time...
Thanks for asking.