James E. Williams (1974) Stimulation of breast growth by hypnosis, The
Journal of Sex Research, 10:4, 316-326, DOI: 10.1080/00224497409550865
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The Journal of Sex Research Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 316—326 November, 1974
Stimulation of Breast Growth
By Hypnosis
JAMES E. WILLIAMS
Abstract
A frequent compaint among women is the failure of the breasts to
develop to a fashionably desirable size. An experiment was designed to
determine whether hypnotic suggestion could influence the physiological
mechanisms associated with breast growth. The first phase compared
hypnosis with and without suggestions for breast growth in six subjects.
The second phase examined the effectiveness of hypnotic suggestions of
breast growth in thirteen subjects acting as their own controls. Analysis of
the data indicated that hypnosis per se had no direct effect on breast
growth, but that hypnosis with suggestions for breast growth was effective
in stimulating breast growth. Further investigation may show this to be a
satisfactory alternate method to surgical breast augmentation.
The bosom is a major sex symbol in our culture. Because of this,
many women are concerned with the appearance of their breasts.
Some who feel their breasts are too small, sag an unusual amount, or
otherwise deviate measurably from the ideal image, often feel deformed or suffer anxiety and self-consciousness. Since the female
breast currently holds a place of prominence as an index of female
sexuality in our culture, a frequent complaint among women is the
failure of the breasts to develop to a fashionably desirable size. In
keeping with other American values, "big" is equated with "good"
(Winch, 1952). To this end, manufacturers of foundation garments
claim styles designed to "lift", "separate", "pad", "cradle", "form",
and "shape" in such a way that they enhance the contour of the
breasts and give the impression of greater size.
Superficial enhancement of this sort has never been completely
satisfactory to all women. The extent to which females are concerned with exhibiting breasts deemed provocative and desirable by
popular standards is reflected in the variety of mechanical exercisers,
cosmetic preparations, and surgical procedures which have been
employed from time to time in an effort to produce lasting enlargement of the breasts.
The paucity of empirical data which might support the effective-
316
STIMULATION OF BREAST GROWTH BY HYPNOSIS 317
ness of mechanical exercisers precludes an evaluation of their worth.
Little more is available regarding the effectiveness of cosmetic preparations. Estrogen creams applied to the breasts usually result in
stimulation of the nipples, but there is little, if any, resultant breast
growth in the woman who has normal circulatory levels of estrogen.
Simultaneous administration of prolactin and estrogen in large
amounts may stimulate the breasts of the normal woman, but evidence for this is not good (Lloyd and Leatham, 1964; Lloyd, 1964,
1968).
Early attempts at surgical breast augmentation were effective for a
time, but ultimately proved to be either troublesome, uncomfortable, or harmful. Fatty tissue from the buttocks grafted beneath the
breasts was successful for a time, but in some instances the fat was
absorbed into the system, leaving the breasts reduced to their previous size. Injections of paraffin tended to migrate from one part of
the breast to another, and to form lumpy deposits. Injections of
liquid silicon appeared successful in increasing the breast size, but
the Food and Drug Administration forbade its use because it was felt
it might not be safe.
An apparently successful solution was an operation involving the
implantation of a flexible silicon rubber bag filled with liquid silicon
between the breast tissue and the chest wall. After healing, breasts
treated by this method retained the natural feel and appearance of
untreated breasts (Brown, 1968). The disadvantages of this procedure are that the operation necessitates hospital confinement of
about one week, and is relatively expensive.
Normal maturation and growth of the female breasts depends on
the development and functioning of the pituitary-gonadal-adrenal
mechanism in the production of gonadotropic hormones. There are
temporary imbalances in the amounts of the numerous hormones
secreted during the period of development, as well as individual
differences in the responsiveness of the sexual end-organs to the
various hormones (Brasel and Blizzard, 1968).
The anterior pituitary controls the activity of the final effector
organ, but it is regulated by the hypothalamus. Nerve pathways exist
which bring the hypothalamus under the influence of the "viceral
brain", which is recognized to be the anatomic substrate of emotion.
It is through these pathways that emotional states can alter gonadotropic function (Reichlin, 1968).
JAMES E. WILLIAMS
Hitschmann (1928) reported such changes in his analytic treatment
of frigidity. In the woman he treated, he found such masculine signs
as flat breasts, little mustaches, and large hands. Hitschmann did not
consider it proven that there was a change in the endocrine metabolism in these women when they changed during an analysis, but the
breasts grew and the figure became better rounded. Groddeck (1921)
and Deutsch (1926) reported cases in which psychic factors were
decisive in producing breast growth. During psychoanalysis in these
cases, anomalous breast changes occurred in women in whom one
breast had been retarded in development
Mohr (1925) reported the case of a girl in whom strong emotions
during puberty resulted in a psychically conditioned inhibition of
pubescence for a period of ten years. When psychotherapy was
initiated, pubescence was completed in a few months, with menses,
development of the breasts, increase of the thyroid, and disappearance of hairiness of the chin which had been present at the beginning
of treatment. Mohr expressed no doubts that endocrine factors had
played a considerable role as a connecting link, but was equally
certain that the psychic factors were primary, activating the endocrines secondarily. Mohr stressed the fact that here "psychic" is by
no means synonymous with "suggestion"; that this psychosomatic
interaction occurred without any suggestion.
That suggestion can play an active role has been more than amply
demonstrated, however. Hypnotic suggestion can produce a variety
of effects which transcend normal voluntary capacities. Even in light
hypnosis there is increased control over the autonomic nervous
system, and all the glands and organs it supplies. It is practicable to
influence any reactive system within the organism. Many of the
phenomena which have been reported lend evidence to the thesis
that hypnotic suggestion can bring about psychobiological changes in
the organism which are quite impossible to obtain in the waking state
(Gorton, 1949; Reiter, 1965; Van Pelt, 1964; Weitzenhoffer, 1951;
Wolberg, 1948).
Among these phenomena, hypnotic regression is one of the most
remarkable. There is evidence that when some individuals are regressed, experience and behaviors which existed at the earlier age are
reactivated, and the organic conditions of that period may be reestablished. Wolberg (1945) described this as an actual organic reproduction of an earlier period of life in which past patterns of ideation
319STIMULATION OF BREAST GROWTH BY HYPNOSIS
and behaviors are revived. Experiences subsequent to the regressed
age appear to have no influence on the subject's awareness or
behavior (Le Cron, 1965; Norgarb, 1965; Weitzenhoffer, 1957 Wolberg, 1948).
Kupper (1945) reported appearance of a pre-convulsive normal
electroencephalogram in an epileptic patient during hypnotic regression to an age that pre-dated the onset of his epilepsy.
Girdo-Frank and Bowersbuch (1948) reported the recovery of the
Babinski sign of plantar dorsiflexion in three adult subjects regressed
to the age of five or six months. They also found that changes in
peripheral chronaxie accompanied the change in plantar reflex. Le
Cron (1965) confirmed their findings, using three different subjects.
At the regressed age of five months, he also found that the sucking
reflex of infancy revived.
Conversely to age regression, Erickson (1954) employed a technique of "time projection" as an hypnotherapeutic procedure. With
this procedure of orientation into the future he reported the patient
was able to achieve a view of what he believed at the moment he had
already accomplished.
Klemperer (1953, 1954) reported on changes of the body image in
directed regressions and visualizations during hypnoanalysis. She
reported the occurrence of seen and felt changes in tissue, organs,
and body systems, accompanied by perceptions and emotions.
Research suggests that these hypnotic procedures of age regression,
time projection, and changes in body image may produce psychological phenomena which are capable of stimulating a variety of physiological responses. The purpose of this study was to determine
whether these procedures could influence the physiological mechanisms associated with breast growth to produce a significant increase
in breast size in an adult female population
Method
Subjects
The subjects consisted of nineteen volunteer female university students. Five were graduate students and the remaining fourteen were
undergraduates. Subjects ranged in age from eighteen to forty years,
with a mean age of twenty-four years. Fifty-three per cent of the
320 JAMES E. WILLIAMS
subjects were married. Of the married subjects, sixty per cent had
borne children. Sixty per cent of the married subjects and fifty-five
per cent of the single subjects reported they were taking birth
control pills. The age of menarche ranged from nine years to fifteen
years, with a mean age of twelve years. All subjects reported their
weight had been constant (within five pounds) for a minimum period
of six months preceding the experiment.
Apparatus
Measuring apparatus consisted of Starett ten-inch outside calipers,
Johnson No. 46 vernier calipers, and a seventy-two inch flexible
measuring tape.
Procedure
The study consisted of two phases. The first phase was a pilot
study designed to compare two treatments. The experimental group
consisted of three subjects who were hypnotized once weekly and
received suggestions for breasts growth. The control group consisted
of three subjects who were hypnotized once weekly, but received no
suggestions for breast growth.
At the initial treatment period of each subject, the expired breast
measurements were taken around the bust on the horizonal plane of
the nipples. Each subject, under the direction of the experimenter,
took the measurements of another subject during the initial and all
subsequent treatment periods. In addition, all measurements were
verified by a third subject. Then hypnosis was induced and suggestions were given.
The suggestions given to each subject in the control group consisted only in the establishment of a variety of sensory hallucinations. The suggestions given to each subject in the experimental
group consisted of regression to a period when the breasts were
developing, and the sensation of breast growth was suggested during
this period. Then suggestions of time projection to an unspecified
future date were given and the subject was directed to visualize her
body image with increased breast size.
Treatment periods averaged about one hour, and were continued
for a period of twelve weeks. Each subject's expired breast measurements were recorded at each of the weekly hypnosis sessions. The