Autosuggestion means the self-influence of the person. Thus, the ego is not a consistent and crystallized unit. It consists of one part that can influence the other. The division of these two parts of the ego is simple: the influencing side is understood from the conscious part and the influenced side is in the subconscious. The conscious part of the human mind is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the great and mysterious subconscious. Actually, we have no information about that part of the ego to which autosuggestion is applied.
In an attempt to make a kind of “virtual map” of the soul, with the aim of locating and distinguishing that abstract element of the subconscious sensitive to suggestion, the best method is to evaluate the phenomenon of hypnosis, where suggestion assumes the role of more direct and focused manifestation.
The ego paradox
Beyond the fact that our ego is divided between the conscious and the subconscious, and that one part can influence the other, hypnosis demonstrates another phenomenon related to the subconscious ego. It is only this part, which is supposed to be the solid core that underlies the conscious ego and is actually the “core of the mind”, it is this part that is liquid and unstable. It is where we expect the individual to hold his strongest identity, that his identity is not quite solid. A person can easily be hypnotized into believing that he is someone else entirely. A person can be hypnotized into believing that he is living in another place and time, and he will actually believe it. Also, in some cases, a person may be hypnotized into believing that he is an animal and may believe it in his hypnotic trance and behave accordingly. When hypnosis was first discovered, there was not much awareness of the severe damage it can do to the human psyche. The pioneer practitioners would hypnotize young women into believing they were chickens, they believed it and clucked, leading some of them to lose their sanity.
The paradox, whereby the main core underlying the human personality is the weakest part of his personality, is not unique within the mind-body system. The brain itself, in which all sensations and emotions are concentrated, and which is the only organ that the body feels, including any pain or light touch, is actually insensitive and does not react to being touched, pinched or cut.
Hypnosis demonstrates that the human mind hides a central point that is not bound, neither by place, nor by time, nor by the identity that the individual has developed throughout his life. This part accompanies the individual from birth to death. We meet him almost every night in dreams where we find ourselves in another time, another place, and sometimes with a different identity. If we want the mind (or the psyche) to be a virtual ball, the solid outer cortex is the conscious part, while the core, the point affected by hypnosis, since it bypasses all the layers and surfaces that surround it, is the core. mind core. . It is due to the “ego paradox” and its confusing nature that hypnosis remains a scientific mystery and the mental core remains unexposed.
An Explanation for the Ego Paradox
At birth, a child is largely a “clean slate” in relation to their identity and personality. In fact, he is born with genetic attributes, with an instinctive will to survive and with an inherent selfishness, and yet, in all aspects related to his identity and personality, he is highly dependent on the environment in which he was born. If, for example, he is raised among monkeys or wolves, he will come to believe that he is a wolf or a monkey (despite feeling the difference between him and them). He will adapt to the environment in which he lives, he will adopt its customs and norms, he will feel belonging and identified with him and will build his identity accordingly. He will do everything possible to adapt the genetic data, with which he was born, to the reality in which he is growing up. Every baby that is born, regardless of the environment, develops over the years its character, nature, essence and identity, depending on its genetic load and environmental factors.
The ego-building process that every person goes through does not completely cover the mind, but leaves its core, to a large extent, in a neutral position in relation to its own identity and personality. Layers of ego are built around the core, enveloping and crystallizing it through achievement, experience, the development of self-confidence, reinforcement, status, ownership, etc. There are people who have created thick, solid layers of protection around the core of their soul, and there are others whose core is more exposed, but for everyone it is liquid in terms of identity and personality.
To understand the reason for this, we must apply the “negative test” method. Let us suppose that the core of the mind is formed by opposite attributes, that is, with a clear and crystallized identity, strong, solid and immutable. A person with such a core would find it very difficult to adjust to the many changes he experiences in life. He would be unable to cope with the changes that occur in his body, its growth and aging, and the many different roles that he must fulfill throughout his life. He would be unable to handle the changes of place, time and living conditions. He would be completely incapable of playing the role of another, of disguising himself or deviating from the stereotypical image of him. There is no doubt that such a life would be much more boring and that people would behave like sophisticated robots whose behavior and reactions are always predictable.
The weakness of the mental core is also the secret of human strength, as the soul wishes to compensate for the weak point of the mental core by strengthening the layers of the ego that cover its core, as said, achieving achievement, respect and status.
If the core of each person were rigid, we would be free from many problems: no ego fights, no wars for respect and status. All the phenomena that demonstrate sensitivity, vulnerability, revenge and jealousy would not exist. Also, not all psychological problems related to identity and personality would exist, such as split personalities, fragmented personalities, failed personalities, and various personality disorders.
A rigid and solid core would make the desire for fulfillment and self-realization superfluous. A person with such a core would not feel the need to belong to any group. Nor would he feel the need for warmth and love, where a missing part of his personality is intended to be filled.
The need to create and maintain an identity, which accompanies the individual throughout his life, is almost equivalent to his will to survive, which is an inherent genetic factor. Usually there is harmony between these two impulses, but sometimes they can find conflicts. There are people who are willing to die to maintain their identity, dignity, status, independence or the social environment to which they belong. On the other hand, under the threat of death, many would be willing to give up their identity and alter it to protect their lives.
suggestive influence
There are three levels of suggestive influence: suggestion, autosuggestion, and hypnosis. We are constantly exposed to suggestions, at all ages and in all places. They apply, directly and indirectly, to our subconscious and conscious, and can affect our thoughts, emotions, desires, opinions, consumption inclinations, etc. Suggestions do not usually penetrate deep into the mental core.
Autosuggestion, on the other hand, is not directed at the conscious at all and is not intended to alter opinions or direct thoughts. It is completely directed towards the subconscious and its target is the emotions.
Hypnosis has the greatest suggestive impact and is able to penetrate the mental core. Here too, the weakness of the core is the secret of its power, since being elastic, it can quickly recover, after the hypnotic impact, its original shape.
