Braid debunked the idea that a "magnetic fluid" passed from the operator to the patient.
Braid’s work focused on the physical and psychological mechanisms that induce a hypnotic state: NEURYPNOLOGY James Braid
Braid coined the terms "hypnotism" and "hypnosis" in this book, though he later preferred "monoideism" when he realized the state was not actually sleep. Braid debunked the idea that a "magnetic fluid"
He recognized that the hypnotic state is dependent on the subject’s mind, not the operator’s power. Key Historical & Scientific Impacts not the operator’s power.
His methods significantly influenced French pioneers like Charcot and Bernheim, whose work later shaped the theories of Sigmund Freud . Community Perspectives
A concise look at Braid’s legacy as the "Father of Hypnosis" is available on Britannica .
Initially, Braid believed the state was caused by physical fatigue of the eyes and nervous system from fixed staring.