What does autosuggestion mean?
Autosuggestion refers to the deliberate practice of influencing one's own mind by repeatedly presenting it with particular ideas or statements — typically positive affirmations such as 'I am calm and confident'. Rooted in the psychology of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the term became widely known through figures like Émile Coué, whose famous mantra 'Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better' exemplified the method. Autosuggestion sits at the intersection of self-help, hypnotherapy, and mainstream psychology: proponents credit it with improving confidence, breaking bad habits, and even easing physical discomfort, while sceptics note that its effects are difficult to separate from placebo responses and ordinary motivation. In modern usage, the word appears most often in formal, clinical, or self-improvement contexts, where it denotes a structured technique rather than casual daydreaming.
The practice of influencing one's own mental state, habits, or behaviour through repeated self-directed suggestion.
"Daily autosuggestion helped her replace anxious thoughts with calmer ones."
Often used in contexts relating to self-help, hypnosis, or therapeutic psychology.
The influence exerted on a person's own body or mind by their own beliefs or expectations, particularly regarding physical symptoms.
"Doctors sometimes observe that autosuggestion can amplify or diminish a patient's reported symptoms."
The plural form exists but is rare, since the word is usually treated as uncountable when referring to the practice in general; the plural appears only when counting individual instances or techniques.
"Different schools of therapy prescribe different autosuggestions for building confidence."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of autosuggestion
Autosuggestion combines the Greek prefix 'auto-', meaning 'self', with 'suggestion', which traces back to Latin 'suggerere', meaning to bring up or supply from below. The compound emerged in the late nineteenth century as European psychologists began studying how individuals could influence their own subconscious minds, paralleling related terms like autohypnosis. Its popularisation owes much to French pharmacist Émile Coué, who championed conscious autosuggestion as a therapeutic method in the early twentieth century.
How autosuggestion is actually used
The word is somewhat formal and is most at home in psychological, medical, and self-help writing; in everyday conversation people more often speak of 'affirmations' or 'talking yourself into' something. It carries no strong negative connotation, though it can occasionally imply wishful or uncritical belief when used sceptically.
Easily confused with autosuggestion
Autosuggestion is the broader practice of repeating ideas to oneself to influence the mind, while self-hypnosis is a specific technique of inducing a hypnotic trance in oneself.