Question:

Can a person snap out of hypnosis if they don’t want to do what the hypnotist says?

Answer:

Can they? Yes. Will they? Possibly.

There are two different things at play here: the impact of an unwanted suggestion and the desire to stay in a comfortable hypnotic state. In light to medium trances, if a suggestion is made the hypnotee doesn’t like or want to follow, it’s highly likely they will pop out of hypnosis. At much deeper levels it’s common for the hypnotee to be enjoying the state so much they don’t want to leave prematurely, so they will stay under hypnosis (perhaps raising to a lighter state, but still not fully leaving). That’s not to say they will follow the suggestion if they stay in hypnosis, they will still reject anything that goes against their wishes, they will just ignore it and stay in the comfortable state. Real-world hypnosis is not the same as TV and movie hypnosis, you don’t become a mindless zombie, with real hypnosis the hypnotee is always in complete control and is able to accept or reject suggestions as they see fit. Hypnosis does not override personal boundaries or agency, self-control is always present and a hypnotee can tune in or out of a suggestion without disrupting the relaxed experience.

So, yes, people can ‘pop out’ of hypnosis if they wish, but even if they remain in the relaxed state, they retain full choice over their actions.

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