Hypnosis in Sweden during the Twentieth Century – the Life and Work of John BjÖrkhem

Abstract

In this paper we present a study of hypnosis in Swedish medicine during the twentieth century. We focus on the life and work of the hypnotist and Swedish physician John Björkhem. He was a controversial person and his therapeutic ideas were not accepted in the medical establishment. The biography of Björkhem and the history of hypnosis in Swedish medicine during the twentieth century are intimately related to each other. We describe an outsider in medicine, both with respect to person and topic. In the case of Björkhem the situation was especially complicated because of his multidisciplinary activities, with three different faculties involved. Finally we deal with the condition of a pioneer, and his struggle for acceptance and understanding.

Keywords

John Björkhem history hypnosis medicine parapsychology psychology Sweden 20th century

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