History Main / MoreHypnotizableThanHeThinks

Distantly related to TemptingFate. See also {{Unpaused}}. A form of {{Irony}}. This is very much TruthInTelevision - trance is a state of consciousness that people enter and leave many times a day, so someone can be hypnotized and not recognize it.

* In one episode of ''TheOddCouple'', Felix confidently declares that he's immune because "persons of superior intellect cannot be hypnotized". After he goes under and Oscar asks what happened, the hypnotist jokes, "Since his intellect is too strong for hypnosis... he must be dead!"

* The ''VideoGame/MassEffect'' series has many characters, of various levels of intelligence and willpower, who believe they will be safe from the effects of [[EldritchAbomination Reaper]] [[MindRape Indoctrination]]. Often, they take some kind of precaution against it, and think that this precaution will stop them succumbing. By the end of the series [[spoiler: absolutely nobody has has been able to resist the effect once they are exposed to it, and the most that any indoctrinated character can manage is to commit suicide, and even that requires an extremely strong will and a lot of encouragement from MagneticHero Shepard to make them realise they've succumbed and break free for just a short while.]]

* The MassEffect series has many characters, of various levels of intelligence and willpower, who believe they will be safe from the effects of [[EldritchAbomination Reaper]] [[MindRape Indoctrination]]. Often, they take some kind of precaution against it, and think that this precaution will stop them succumbing. By the end of the series [[spoiler: absolutely nobody has has been able to resist the effect once they are exposed to it, and the most that any indoctrinated character can manage is to commit suicide, and even that requires an extremely strong will and a lot of encouragement from MagneticHero Shepard to make them realise they've succumbed and break free for just a short while.]]

** Shepard him/herself can run afoul of this trope depending on how one has role-played in Mass Effect 2 during Samara's Loyalty Mission. Acting as the bait for [[TheVamp Morinth]], Shepard will be given three conversation prompts as Morinth attempts to assert power over Shepard's mind. The first two are fairly reasonable reputation checks that let Shepard blithely ignore Morinth's attempts to manipulate their thoughts, but when Morinth gets serious, the third prompt hits you with one of the two most difficult reputation checks in the game; a Shepard that does this mission early or was mixing Paragon and Renegade options will likely be stunned by Morinth before Samara bursts in to save them. A very powerful Paragon or Renegade, however, can avert this and chalk up another CrowningMomentOfAwesome by being too badass for Morinth's mind-trick to have any power.

* In the ''{{Ben 10}}'' episode with the evil hypnotist, Ben thinks that only someone with 'half a brain' could be hypnotized. Gwen [[StealthInsult volunteers him]], and sure enough, the hypnotism works.

Alice has the power to (or has acquired [[PlotDevice a device]] that can) hypnotize a person, and she wants to try it out on Bob. Bob merely scoffs at this, saying that he cannot be hypnotized. However, Alice tries anyway, and ends up successfully hypnotizing Bob.

[[AC: FanFiction]]

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]

[[AC: VideoGames]]

** Shepard him/herself can run afoul of this trope depending on how one has role-played in Mass Effect 2 during Samara's Loyalty Mission. Acting as the bait for [[TheVamp Morinth]], Shepard will be given three conversation prompts as Morinth attempts to assert power over Shepard's mind. The first two are fairly reasonable reputation checks that let Shepard blithely ignore Morinth's attempts to manipulate their thoughts, but when Morinth gets serious, the third prompt hits you with one of the two most difficult reputation checks in the game; a Shepard that does this mission early or was mixing Paragon and Renegade options will likely be stunned by Morinth before Samara bursts in to save them. A very powerful Paragon or Renegade, however, can avert this and chalk up another CrowningMomentOfAwesome by being too badass for Morinth's mind-trick to have any power.

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

* In the ''{{Ben 10}}'' episode with the evil hypnotist, Ben thinks that only someone with 'half a brain' could be hypnotized. Gwen [[StealthInsult volunteers him]], and sure enough, the hypnotism works.

Distantly related to TemptingFate. See also {{Unpaused}}. A form of {{Irony}}.

* In the {{Ben 10}} episode with the evil hypnotist, Ben thinks that only someone with 'half a brain' could be hypnotized. Gwen [[StealthInsult volunteers him]], and sure enough, the hypnotism works.

* In the {Ben 10} episode with the evil hypnotist, Ben thinks that only someone with 'half a brain' could be hypnotized. Gwen [[StealthInsult volunteers him]], and sure enough, the hypnotism works.

* In the ''Ben10'' episode with the evil hypnotist, Ben claims that only someone with 'half a brain' could be hypnotized. Gwen [[StealthInsult volunteers him]], and sure enough, the hypnotism works.

* In a ''USAcres'' segment of ''GarfieldAndFriends'', Orson attempts to hypnotize Wade into being extremely brave. Wade claims he's too smart to be hypnotized, but goes under in the middle of his claim, and continues it after he wakes up, even though it's succeeded.

* ''TheGarfieldShow'': Garfield also fell asleep during his bragging. Jon [[SarcasmMode claimed Garfield falling asleep was news to him]].

Alice has the power to (or has acquired [[PlotDevice a device]] that can) hypnotize a person, and she wants to try it out on Bob. Bob merely scoffs at this, saying that he cannot be hypnotized. However, Alice tries anyway, and ends up successfully hypnotizing Bob.

If the character snaps out of hypnosis, expect him or her to say something along the lines of, "See? I told you I can't be hypnotized!"

Distantly related to TemptingFate. See also {{Unpaused}}. A form of {{Irony}}.

!!Examples:

* In Lauralot's fic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5651986/1/The_Doctors_and_the_Nurses_They_Adore_Me_So The Doctors and the Nurses They Adore Me So]]'' Jonathan Crane believes he cannot be hypnotized. He is incorrect.

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]
* In the season 1 finale of ''{{Eureka}}'', Beverly hypnotizes Fargo so she can interrogate him.
-->'''Beverly''': When I snap my fingers, you will wake feeling refreshed and remember nothing about what we discussed here today. One... two... three. ''(snaps fingers)''
-->'''Fargo''': ''(smugly)'' ...which is why it's not even possible for me to be hypnotized.
-->'''Beverly''': Well, Fargo, we'll just have to keep working on it.
* In the first season of ''{{Smallville}}'', Chloe and Clark go to see this man affected by meteor rock who claims he can hypnotize people. Chloe disbelieves him, he promptly does it to her, and he makes her kiss Clark. Afterward...
-->'''Chloe''': ''(even smugger than Fargo)'' See? Not even possible. *pause* Why do I taste mint?
* The hypnotist episode of ''MurderSheWrote'' has somebody do this to Jessica.
* ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' original episode, "Dagger of the Mind," had Kirk try out the Neural Neutralizer, complete with him not realizing he blanked out for a second when it was turned on.
* In ''HappyDays,'' the cowardly Ralph Malph is terrified by an approaching tornado, so a doctor hypnotizes him despite that he says he's too strong-willed; the doctor then makes him completely fearless, leading to his almost getting killed-- not only by the tornado, but also the Fonz.
* From ''[[Series/ThirtyRock 30 Rock]]'':
--> '''Lemon''': Pete, no. I listened to you when you wanted to take the staff to that R-rated hypnotist, and that sucked.
--> '''Pete:''' It was pretty bad. Nutmeg.
--> ''[Lemon stands up like a zombie and starts to pull up her shirt.]''
--> '''Pete:''' Aaaah!! Rodeo rodeo rodeo!
--> ''[Lemon stops stripping and looks around in confusion.]''

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]
* In the ''LooneyTunes'' short "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYEDjRYSCHI The Hare-Brained Hypnotist]]", Elmer Fudd uses a book on psychology to learn hypnosis and attempts to use it on Bugs Bunny. While Bugs turns the table on him, they eventually start shooting [[BuffySpeak hypnosis beam things]] at each other until Elmer runs away, leading to this line:
--> '''Bugs:''' How's about that, thinkin' he could hypnotize me! Ha! *looks at watch* Ooh, I'm overdue at the airport! *jumps into the sky and starts flying* I'm the B-19!

* ''TheGarfieldShow'': Garfield also fell asleep during his bragging. Jon [[SarcasmMode claimed Garfield falling asleep was news to him]].

* ''StarTrek'' original episode, "Dagger of the Mind," had Kirk try out the Neural Neutralizer, complete with him not realizing he blanked out for a second when it was turned on.

* The MassEffect series has many characters, of various levels of intelligence and willpower, who believe they will be safe from the effects of [[EldritchAbomination Reaper]] [[MindRape Indoctrination]]. Often, they take some kind of precaution against it, and think that this precaution will stop them succumbing. By the end of the series [[spoiler: absolutely nobody has has been able to resist the effect once they are exposed to it, and the most that any indoctrinated character can manage is to commit suicide, and even that requires an extremely strong-willed and a lot of encouragement from MagneticHero Shepard in making them realise they've succumbed and breaking free for just a short while.]]

[[AC: Videogames]]

* From ''[[ThirtyRock 30 Rock]]'':

* Parodied in an episode of ''PerfectStrangers'', where Larry claims he can't be hypnotized and -- after briefly faking out the hypnotist -- turns out to be right. Of course, poor Balki standing next to him was [[HypnoFool a little more susceptible.]]

* Parodied in an episod of ''PerfectStrangers'', where Larry claims he can't be hypnotized and -- after briefly faking out the hypnotist -- turns out to be right. Of course, poor Balki standing next to him was [[HypnoFool a little more susceptible.]]