Hypnosis is the ability to place an individual into a trance-like state where their conscious mind is subsumed, allowing their subconscious mind to become more active. People who are experienced at placing others under hypnosis are sometimes referred to as hypnotists. Hypnosis is sometimes used by members of the professional community, such as psychotherapists. It is not always considered an orthodox form of treatment however. People who have been placed under hypnosis may sometimes recall repressed or forgotten memories, and in some cases, may even be able to perceive paranormal sensations, such as the existence of a past life.

On the CBS television series The Mentalist, CBI consultant Patrick Jane often uses hypnosis to glean information from potential suspects, or to convince people in positions of authority to allow him access to a resource that he would not otherwise be allowed to avail himself of.

In horror fiction, vampires are often found demonstrating the power of hypnosis. They usually use this to render potential prey into a more docile state so that they can easily feed off of them. In the 1960s Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, the vampire Barnabas Collins often used his hypnotic abilities to control his victims. Conversely, Barnabas' one-time adversary (later a trusted confidante), Julia Hoffman routinely used hypnosis on her patients, as well as some of Barnabas' victims, such as Maggie Evans.

In the television series True Blood, vampires refer to their ability to hypnotize others as "glamour". The characters of Bill Compton, Jessica Hamby and Pam De Beaufort have used this ability many times.

Vampiric mesmerism has also been demonstrated on the CW Network television series The Vampire Diaries. In the pilot episode of the series, vampire school student Stefan Salvatore used this ability to convince school administrative assistant Mrs. Clarke to allow him to enroll at Mystic Falls High School.