Can hypnosis or psychology reduce sexual attraction and desire?

  • Topic: Medical 
  • Thread starter Thread starter e^e
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
4 replies · 7K views
e^e
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Can male or female heterosexual humans become asexual using hypnosis or someother psychological method? And by asexual, i mean losing any kind of sexual attraction or desire. As I understand sexual attraction is not only hormons, but hard-wired chemicals in our minds. Do you know any past or current research about the subject?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Sexuality is deep-rooted in our brains, one of the most basic functions. I don't know how hypnosis could affect it. In fact, isn't hypnosis a myth?
 
I know asexuals exist, but do not know the cause of it. My bet is that its possible. One can make people believe they are pigs(?), and make them see blue colors as red, so why not asexual? Maybe a trick would be needed such as evoking disgust when seeing other humans.

And i wonder when a male is hypnotised to feel female, if he will be attracted to males.
 
It works in a certain way yes. Heres a NY times story:

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9600/hypnosis0ep.jpg
http://www.rickross.com/reference/brainwashing/brainwashing48.html

And here is research about it:

CONCLUSIONS: Among highly hypnotizable subjects, observed changes in subjective experience achieved during hypnosis were reflected by changes in brain function similar to those that occur in perception. These findings support the claim that hypnosis is a psychological state with distinct neural correlates and is not just the result of adopting a role.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/157/8/1279
 
Last edited by a moderator: