by Tim Brunson PhD
This whole issue of gene expression is a very fascinating hypothesis. Although I completed a course with Rossi a couple of years ago and attended a course by another psychologist around the same time, I don't see the idea catching on with other researchers.
A lot of Rossi's ideas on this subject concern altering gene expression based upon environmental inputs. Indeed, stress would be an example of such an input. A stressful situation would result in the generation (or production) of "stress proteins." Such stress proteins can interfere with optimal performance and ultimately produce psychosomatic illnesses.
Remember what Rossi, who is primarily a psychologist, is exploring is at the human genome and DNA levels. As DNA is essentially proteins, what he is saying is that experience (a.k.a. "nuture") can restructure DNA. This is contrary to many of Myer's comments (which he often contradicts). This is also in line with what the histology professor, Bruce Lipton Ph.D. is saying about cellular activity being influenced by our thoughts.
I feel that Rossi's core message is that there is a relationship between novelty, gene expression, neurogenesis, and numinosum – the experience of fascination, mystery, and tremendousness that motivates our lives. Essentially, he is saying that such arousal creates a corresponding alteration of our DNA, thereby producing proteins that affect our physiology to include our brains.
The logical extension of this theory is the therapeutic model that involves four steps. The first he calls Data Collection. This is the initiation or sensation stage. This leads to an incubation stages in which there is an induction of a feeling or arousal. Before the next stages there is a period of private, creative inner work, which leads to the third stage of illumination. This is where the client/patient achieves insight or breakout. (I also call this the ah-ha, enlightenment or intuition phase.) This allows the subject to relax and enter the final verification stages where reintegration and thinking. (The stages are Data Collection, Incubation, Illumination, and Verification.)
Therapeutically, I like to view this as getting a subject to "step out of their box" and to confront sufficient challenge allowing him/her to enter an adaptation phase. I allow the subject to relax and let an "inner answer" emerge. This will be followed by a conscious recognition of the "learning" achieved. What Rossi does is to present a very scientific analysis concerning why this occurs.
One last note is that although Rossi has written volumes about psychotherapy and hypnosis (especially Ericksonian hypnotherapy), this latest work was AFTER he experienced what should have been a disabling stroke. I sincerely feel that his rapid recovery and the writing of his greatest work were due somewhat to the application of this theory.
The International Hypnosis Research Institute is a member supported project involving integrative health care specialists from around the world. We provide information and educational resources to clinicians. Dr. Brunson is the author of over 150 self-help and clinical CD's and MP3's.
Posted: 02/11/2012
