Suggestion and psychotherapy / by George W. Jacoby.

  • Jacoby, George W., 1856-1940.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Suggestion and psychotherapy / by George W. Jacoby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the suggester. Above all he must be enveloped, in the eyes of the person to be influenced, by a halo of authority. There are persons who captivate our admiration, whom we face with timidity, enthusiasm, or fear, who exert over us a mysterious power, and whom we blindly believe without requiring demonstra¬ tive proof. Such fascinating personalities some¬ times exert an influence over others merely by force of their dramatic talent, without themselves being convinced of the truth of their words, and they are born suggesters. Others who honestly believe in the truth of their own ideas possess no powers of suggestion at all, because they are un¬ able to impress any one with their beliefs, in con¬ sequence perhaps of their insignificant appearance or of their timidity. It has previously been said that suggestion has no power over strong characters. Practically, this fact is almost a negligible quantity, for individuals with unalterable ideas are exceedingly uncommon. No person is completely unreceptive of the sugges¬ tive influence which lurks about him, infiltrates his thoughts, emotions, and will, and insinuates itself into his subconsciousness.