Professor David Oakley
Photo courtesy HypnosisUnitUK
- Born
- Unknown
Professor David Oakley is a clinical psychologist who has suggested hypnosis as a therapeutic technique in psychology, medicine and dentistry. He is also the founder and co-director of the Hypnosis Unit UK, and the former editor of the journal Contemporary Hypnosis. Oakley has achieved awards for his books and his research papers into psychology of human delusions.
Oakley's work looks at how our brains function, and he uses brain imaging alongside hypnosis techniques to explore its effects. Oakley's current work looks at pain, and he believes that some pain may originate in the brain, not from where it feels like. One of his research studies seems to show that volunteers who felt pain as a result of hypnotic suggestion showed very similar brain activity as those who were subjected to physical pain.
On the study, Oakley said, “The fact that hypnosis was able to induce a genuine painful experience suggests that some pain really can begin in our minds. People reporting this type of pain are not simply imagining it.”
Oakley's academic background begins in 1961 when he began a degree in psychology at the University of London, which he completed with a First Class grade. He continued his studies with a Ph.D. entitled Decorticate Learning. Upon completion he became a member of the research staff in the Medical Research Council before taking up a Lecturer position at the City University. After several years he left and returned to UCL to lecture and eventually achieved the title of senior lecturer.
Hypnosis has moved out of the Dark Ages and is now recognised as a valuable research tool. Hypnosis offers a safe way of altering a person’s experience of themselves or of the world around them.
David Oakley, August 2004
In between 1983 and 1988, he worked to complete a British Psychological Society Diploma in Clinical Psychology and successfully became a chartered Clinical Psychologist. In 1989 David Oakley took his first directorate job, as Director of Schools and Colleges Liaison. He went on to direct in several other positions within the university.
Oakley currently has several roles within UCL, including director of hypnosis unit, director of modular programmes in hypnosis studies, emeritus professor, as well as acting as an honorary professor for the University of Cardiff.
In addition to these tasks, he is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, the American Psychological Association and the Royal Society of Medicine, and he has also co-edited two books.