A brief history of hypnosis the use of hypnosis in its general sense is found in virtually every culture across the world it most likely stretches back into ancient history for example hieroglyphics found on egyptian tombs believed to be from 3000bc depict the use of hypnosis in religious rites and surgical procedures. Hypnosis a brief history crosses disciplinary boundaries to explain current advances and controversies surrounding the use of hypnosis through an exploration of the history of its development examines the social and cultural contexts of the theories development and practice of hypnosis. Hypnosis a brief history along the way there have been many pioneers in the feild of hypnosis research photo by brian a jackson on shutterstock the modern father of hypnosis was austrian. A brief history of hypnosis hypnos god of sleep allegedly from around 2000 to 1000 bc the ancient egyptians used sleep temples places used for healing a variety of ailments usually psychosomatic