The Journal of Sex Research

Stimulation of breast growth by hypnosis

James E. Williams

To cite this article:

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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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224497409550865

Published online: 11 Jan 2010.

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Date: 29 February 2016, At: 04:14

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-
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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
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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
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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