title: The confusion technique untangled: its theoretical rationale and preliminary classification.
abstract: This article examines the historical development of Milton H. Erickson's theoretical approach to hypnosis using confusion. Review of the literature suggests that the Confusion Technique, in principle, consists of a two-stage "confusion-restructuring" process. The article also attempts to categorize several examples of confusion suggestions by seven linguistic characteristics: (1) antonyms, (2) homonyms, (3) synonyms, (4) elaboration, (5) interruption, (6) echoing, and (7) uncommon words. The Confusion Technique is an important yet little studied strategy developed by Erickson. More work is urged to investigate its nature and properties.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otani
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003221:Confusion / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D013404:Suggestion