The Role of Hypnosis in ‘Get Out’ and Its Psychological Implications
Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ (2017) is a psychological thriller that masterfully blends horror with social commentary. One of the film’s most unsettling elements is the use of hypnosis, employed by Missy Armitage to manipulate and control the protagonist, Chris Washington. More than just a plot device, hypnosis in ‘Get Out’ serves as a metaphor for oppression, mental imprisonment, and the loss of autonomy.
Hypnosis as a Tool of Control
In the film, Missy Armitage, a psychiatrist, uses hypnosis to put Chris into the Sunken Place, a symbolic realm where he loses control over his body while remaining fully aware of what is happening to him. This mirrors real-world anxieties about power dynamics, where individuals or groups can be systematically silenced and stripped of agency.
The hypnotic process in ‘Get Out’ involves:
Triggering Psychological Vulnerability: Missy exploits Chris’s emotional trauma, specifically his guilt over his mother’s death, to weaken his mental defenses.
Sensory Manipulation: The repeated stirring of tea in a cup becomes an auditory cue that induces hypnosis, conditioning Chris’s subconscious response.
Total Subjugation: Once under hypnosis, Chris is paralyzed and unable to resist the Armitage family’s sinister plans, highlighting the terrifying loss of control.
The Psychological Implications of Hypnosis
While hypnosis is a real psychological technique often used for therapy, its portrayal in ‘Get Out’ reflects deeper anxieties about mind control and forced submission.
The Fear of Losing Free Will: Chris’s entrapment in the Sunken Place represents the ultimate psychological horror—being aware of one’s helplessness but powerless to act. This taps into real fears of manipulation and coercion, seen in cases of cult indoctrination and psychological abuse.
Symbolic Oppression: The Sunken Place is a metaphor for the historical and systemic silencing of marginalized communities. Despite screaming internally, Chris cannot be heard—a powerful allegory for oppression in both personal and societal contexts.
Hypnosis and Real Psychological Trauma: The film also explores the ethical concerns surrounding hypnosis. While in reality, hypnosis is typically used for positive purposes (such as treating anxiety and addiction), in ‘Get Out’, it is weaponized to enforce compliance, similar to brainwashing techniques.
The use of hypnosis in ‘Get Out’ goes beyond horror—it is a chilling metaphor for control, suppression, and psychological bondage. By blending real psychological concepts with social critique, Peele crafts a haunting depiction of how power can be exerted over the mind, making the horror of ‘Get Out’ feel all too real.
Also Read: Echo Chambers in Gaming: How Player Communities Shape In-Game Culture and Narratives
–Silviya.Y
