The Power of Fractionation in Stage Hypnosis
Engaging and Deepening Audience Trance
When I first trained in clinical hypnosis, no one ever taught me about fractionation. Once I learned about fractionation and started using it in my shows, everything changed. My inductions became faster, my volunteers responded more dramatically, and my performances became far more engaging.
Fractionation is one of the most effective tools for any stage hypnotist. This technique—bringing subjects in and out of trance multiple times—helps deepen hypnosis, increase responsiveness, and create an entertaining and dynamic experience for both the volunteers and the audience.
What Is Fractionation in Hypnosis?
Fractionation is the process of guiding someone into trance, briefly bringing them out, and then leading them back into hypnosis. Each time this cycle is repeated, the subject tends to go deeper into trance more quickly and effortlessly.
Hippolyte Bernheim was one of the first people to discover the impact of fractionation while working at the Nancy School of hypnosis in the late 19th century. Bernheim noticed that subjects who had been hypnotized before were much easier to re-hypnotize, and those who were brought in and out of trance repeatedly entered hypnosis more deeply with each cycle.
Why Does Fractionation Work?
Fractionation is so effective because of how the brain processes contrast, familiarity, and conditioning:
Contrast Effect: When someone briefly comes out of trance and then returns, the shift in awareness makes the hypnotic state feel deeper by comparison. Each time they drop back into trance, they experience it more intensely.
Conditioning and Familiarity: The more often someone experiences hypnosis, the more natural and comfortable it feels. Fractionation speeds up this familiarization process, reducing resistance.
Rapid Deepening: Rather than spending extra time using traditional deepening techniques, fractionation allows hypnotists to achieve deep trance states much faster.
Why Entertainment Hypnotists Should Use Fractionation
For stage hypnotists, fractionation is a game-changer. Here’s how it improves performances:
1. Faster Inductions for Larger Groups
Time is crucial in a stage hypnosis show. When working with multiple volunteers, you don’t have 20 minutes to guide each person into a deep trance. Fractionation allows you to quickly bring your guests into hypnosis and deepen their trance state efficiently.
For example, after the initial induction, you can wake them up momentarily, then immediately guide them back into hypnosis. Each time this happens, they enter trance faster and more deeply, ensuring the entire group is ready for entertaining suggestions.
2. Keeping the Audience Engaged
One of the most entertaining aspects of stage hypnosis is when volunteers suddenly “drop” into trance. Using fractionation creates moments of surprise and amazement for the audience. When guests wake up and then instantly return to hypnosis, it reinforces the idea that hypnosis is powerful and effective, keeping the crowd engaged and entertained.
3. Increasing Suggestibility for More Fun and Engaging Effects
Deeper hypnosis often, but not always, means subjects respond more fully to suggestions, leading to funnier and more dramatic reactions. Once a subject has been fractionated multiple times, they become highly responsive to suggestions such as:
Forgetting their name
Reacting to imaginary temperatures (feeling "freezing cold" or "boiling hot")
Believing they are stuck to their chair
Since fractionation lowers resistance, guests on stage are more likely to go along with suggestions, creating a better experience for both them and the audience.
4. Managing Your Guests on Stage
A great stage hypnotist knows how to manage their volunteers effectively. Some people go into trance very deeply, while others remain in a lighter state. Fractionation helps keep everyone in the right range—deep enough to respond but still aware enough to follow instructions.
By using fractionation, you can:
Help lighter subjects drop into deeper trance so they respond better to suggestions.
Keep deeply hypnotized subjects engaged so they don’t drift too far into sleep-like states.
Recalibrate the group’s focus if attention starts to wander.
Rather than "controlling" your subjects, fractionation allows you to guide them into the best possible hypnotic state for an entertaining show.
How to Use Fractionation in Your Stage Hypnosis Show
Use It Early and Often: After your initial induction, fractionate your volunteers at least 2-3 times before starting your main skits. This ensures they are in a deep, responsive state.
Make It Fun: Play with the wake-up-and-drop-back dynamic. For example, you can say, "In a moment, you’ll wake up and feel completely normal… until you realize you have no idea where you are!" Then, guide them back into hypnosis for deeper trance.
Watch Your Guests’ Responses: Pay attention to which volunteers respond quickly to fractionation. These are your best subjects for the most dramatic skits.
Use It to Keep Energy High: If you notice some volunteers getting sluggish or losing focus, fractionate them again to refresh their engagement.
Final Thoughts: Fractionation as a Stage Hypnosis Superpower
When I first started doing stage hypnosis, I had no idea how important fractionation was. Once I learned how to use it, my inductions became faster, my volunteers responded better, and my shows became far more entertaining.
Fractionation isn’t just a deepening technique—it’s a performance enhancer that makes everything run more smoothly. It helps you keep your volunteers engaged, ensures they respond well to suggestions, and keeps your audience entertained from start to finish.
If you’re a stage hypnotist looking to improve your show, mastering fractionation is one of the most powerful tools you can add to your skill set. The results? Bigger laughs, more amazement, and a performance your audience will never forget.