Chapter XI - Hypnotism and Other CuresChapter XI - Hypnotism and Other Cures
Psychology of Alcoholism, The by George Barton Cutten (1874 - 1962)
George Barton Cutten examines what it means to be cured of alcoholism and weighs physical treatments, the Keeley method, and hypnotism through detailed case reports. The chapter highlights how craving, environment, and personal willingness all shape whether these approaches bring lasting change.
1:02:07•1 Apr 2026
Hypnotism, Cures and the Elusive Meaning of Recovery
Episode Overview
- Cutten argues that the core of alcoholism is the drink impulse, and that removing this impulse constitutes a cure, even if damage remains.
- Physical treatments such as rest, medical care, and improved nutrition are presented as vital for repairing the body after heavy drinking.
- The Keeley cure and similar methods are described as largely suggestive and sometimes reliant on inducing nausea rather than addressing root causes.
- Hypnotism can help many alcoholics by creating strong aversions and new habits, but only when the person genuinely wants to stop and is hypnotisable.
- Returning to the same social and environmental cues around alcohol can overpower hypnotic suggestions, making ongoing support and changed surroundings crucial.
“If anyone is determined to drink, he will do so regardless of the means used to prevent him.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This chapter from *The Psychology of Alcoholism* looks squarely at a big question: what does it actually mean to be “cured” of alcoholism, and how far can methods like hypnotism really go?
George Barton Cutten starts by challenging the idea that there is no cure at all, arguing that the “drink impulse” is the core of the disease, and that when this is removed, alcoholism as such is cured—even if physical and mental damage remains. From there, you’ll get a clear run-through of the medical care common at the time: rest, nutrition, massage, surgery in some cases, and why many so-called miracle tonics are just substitutes that swap alcohol for other drugs.
The heart of the chapter is hypnotism and suggestion. Cutten shares detailed case histories showing how hypnotic suggestions—such as “alcohol in any form would nauseate him” or making liquor taste like “wormwood or castor oil”—sometimes stop years of heavy drinking.
Yet he’s blunt about the limits: “If anyone is determined to drink, he will do so regardless of the means used to prevent him.” You’ll also hear about the famous Keeley cure, methods that induce deliberate nausea, and why some “secret” treatments likely rely more on suggestion than chemistry. Cutten stresses two conditions for success with hypnotism: the person must actively want to stop, and must be hypnotisable.
Even then, returning to the same drinking environment can undo the best suggestions. The style is clinical but surprisingly readable, with vivid stories of long-term drinkers, dipsomania, and even double personality. Anyone interested in the psychology behind cravings, early approaches to treatment, or the debate over disease versus behaviour will find plenty to mull over. It might just make you ask: if the craving is quiet, what else still needs healing?
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