Etienne Félix d'Hénin de Cuvillers: a founder of hypnosis.
Etienne Félix d'Hénin de Cuvillers (1755-1841) was one of the few followers of Mesmer who continued to study, practice, and refine animal magnetism after its eclipse resulting from the 1784 publication of the essentially negative investigatory reports of the French commissions. He differed from Mesmer in that he denied the existence of a magnetic fluid, emphasized the role of mental processes in mesmerism and in general behavior, and anticipated the much later psychodynamic constructs of transference and countertransference. In addition, he used and publicized a system of scientific nomenclature based upon the "hypn-" prefix for which Braid has usually, but inaccurately, been given credit for originating.
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George Washington University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Washington, DC 20036.
D005602:France; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000266:history*