“Yes” Sets, Compliance Sets, and Cross-Examination

 Posted on January 17,2018 in Uncategorized

A compliance set is a series of instructions (three will do) that you give to your hypnosis subject to establish his physical compliance with your commands. They don't have to be fancy, but they have to be things that your subject will do: "Put your feet flat on the floor [he's already doing it]. Rest your hands comfortably on your legs. Now close your eyes."

A yes set is a series of questions that you ask your hypnosis subject to establish his intellectual compliance with you. Again: nothing fancy. "Do you want to experience a hypnotic trance? Is this your first time to experience a hypnotic trance? Are you ready to begin?"

Start with a yes set, follow with a compliance set, and you're off to the races. You've set up two patterns: physical compliance, and rapport.

But that's with a subject who wants what you're offering. What about a witness under cross-examination?

Terry MacCarthy's "look-good cross" is an extended yes set.

(For bonus hypnosis points, Terry's cross is the courtroom equivalent of an Ericksonian never-ending sentence. Scroll down a bit to "Avoid conclusive statements":

Thousands of lawyers have learned cross-examination from Terry MacCarthy; the use of yes sets in cross-examination is well established. How about a compliance set now and then?