<P> At the outset of cognitive behavioural therapy during the 1950s, hypnosis was used by early behaviour therapists such as Joseph Wolpe and also by early cognitive therapists such as Albert Ellis . Barber, Spanos, and Chaves introduced the term "cognitive - behavioural" to describe their "nonstate" theory of hypnosis in Hypnosis, imagination, and human potentialities . However, Clark L. Hull had introduced a behavioural psychology as far back as 1933, which in turn was preceded by Ivan Pavlov . Indeed, the earliest theories and practices of hypnotism, even those of Braid, resemble the cognitive - behavioural orientation in some respects . </P> <P> There are numerous applications for hypnosis across multiple fields of interest, including medical / psychotherapeutic uses, military uses, self - improvement, and entertainment . The American Medical Association currently has no official stance on the medical use of hypnosis . However, a study published in 1958 by the Council on Mental Health of the American Medical Association documented the efficacy of hypnosis in clinical settings . </P> <P> Hypnosis has been used as a supplemental approach to cognitive behavioral therapy since as early as 1949 . Hypnosis was defined in relation to classical conditioning; where the words of the therapist were the stimuli and the hypnosis would be the conditioned response . Some traditional cognitive behavioral therapy methods were based in classical conditioning . It would include inducing a relaxed state and introducing a feared stimuli . One way of inducing the relaxed state was through hypnosis . </P> <P> Hypnotism has also been used in forensics, sports, education, physical therapy, and rehabilitation . Hypnotism has also been employed by artists for creative purposes, most notably the surrealist circle of André Breton who employed hypnosis, automatic writing, and sketches for creative purposes . Hypnotic methods have been used to re-experience drug states and mystical experiences . Self - hypnosis is popularly used to quit smoking, alleviate stress and anxiety, promote weight loss, and induce sleep hypnosis . Stage hypnosis can persuade people to perform unusual public feats . </P>

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