Doctor Defied Convention, Used Hypnosis Keep On Learning: Ernest Hilgard's willingness to take risks changed America's view of psychology.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: GLORIA LAU

As a scientist, Ernest Ropiequet Hilgard didn't just rely on theories and guesswork.

Instead, he conducted experiments and carefully measured the results. It was that studied method that helped Hilgard change America's view of psychology and the practice of hypnosis from one of disdain into one of respect.

Hilgard (1904-2001) didn't set out to become a psychologist. The son of a physician, he was interested first in science. He majored in chemical engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, graduating in 1924. Indeed, he wrote his first scientific paper on spontaneous combustion in coal.

Afterwards, he decided to study religion and philosophy at Yale University's divinity school. He grew interested in the human body's conditioned responses, which led him to switch his academic focus to experimental psychology.

Hilgard started by conducting extensive research studies on the human eyelid. He created a photographic technique to examine the eyelid's responses. After looking at the results from many studies, he was able to demonstrate the relationship between voluntary and involuntary responses. For that he won a medal in Experimental Psychology in 1940.

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