At the same time Bernhiem and Liebault were studying hypnotism in Nancy, Dr. James Martin Charcot experimented with it in his clinic at Salpetriere. He was the first one to identify and label the various levels of hypnotic depth.
Although one of the most advanced neurologists of his day, Charcot made several mistakes when he approached the new subject. Basically, he believed that hypnosis was a phenomena that could best be studied with patients of hysteria – and taught that hypnosis itself was a pathological state. In short, his view was that physical action was the cause of hypnosis rather than psychological suggestion, so his theories were in conflict with those of Liebault and Bernheim. Two other beliefs he had were in the somatic induction of hypnotic sleep by the touching of “hypnogenic zones,” and in the validity of Dr. Burcq’s metaloscopy theory.
Even though Charcot’s basic ideas about hypnosis may have been incorrect, he made an important discovery in recognizing and naming various depth levels of hypnosis.
In 1878, Charcot and his pupils at the Academy proved these stages of hypnotic sleep by showing that the hypnotized subject is capable of showing different symptoms and passing different “tests” in each stage. This was the first attempt at a scientific classification of trance phenomena, and it is fortunate for the later history of hypnosis that Charcot adapted it. “It is reflected in modern times in the famous Davis-Husband scale of hypnotic depths, the frequently used LeCron-Bordeaux Scale, and so on.)
It was in Charcot’s treatise, “On the Distinct Nororaphy of the Different Phases of Sciences Comprised Under the Name of Hypnotism,” that the three widely-accepted depths of hypnosis were first named and defined.
The names Charcot applied to the stages, in order, are LETHARGY, CATALEPSY, and SOMNAMBULISM. Various hypnotists use other scales composing four, five, seven, or more stages of trance depth, but the three-step scale devised by Charcot continues to be the most practical today.
Charcot became recognized throughout the medical world for his contributions to the field of neurology, and his acceptance of hypnotism caused many doctors of that time to likewise accept it. His misconceptions were also unfortunately accepted, causing some time lapse in discovering more of the truths about hypnosis; still, another huge step forward had been taken.
