LAUSR

The hypnosis community has lost an important leader and friend. James (Jim) Council died unexpectedly on Friday, July 19, 2019, at his home in Fargo, North Dakota. He was 65 years old at the time of his passing. Jim was born on July 15, 1954, in Washington, D.C. He and his sister were raised by their mother and father in Maryland. Jim attended college at the University of Maryland where he met his future wife, Susan (Lee) Council. Jim received his B.S. in psychology from the University of Maryland in 1976 and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut in 1985. He completed a pre-doctoral internship at Child and Family Services in Hartford, Connecticut and a postdoctoral fellowship in behavioral medicine at Brown University. Jim was a member of the faculty in the Department of Psychology at North Dakota State University for 31 years beginning in 1985. He was promoted to full professor in 1998. Jim served two terms as chair of the psychology department. He was also Associate Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, as well as Dean of Libraries. Jim taught many courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including personality psychology, childhood psychopathology, as well as history and systems. Jim developed his own program of research and chaired more than 15 master’s theses. He was a valued mentor to many students. Jim’s research interests included the history of psychology, as well as hypnosis. With regard to the history of psychology, among Jim’s publications are articles and book chapters on the history of APA Division 30 – Society of Psychological Hypnosis (Council, Gravitz, Hilgard, & Levitt, 2000), the evolution of the official Division 30 definition of hypnosis (Council, 2015), as well as the history of the measurement of hypnotic suggestibility (Council, 2002). Jim’s research on hypnosis addressed such topics as the impact of different types of hypnotic inductions (e.g., Council, Kirsch, Vickery, & Carlson, 1983), the role of response expectancies in producing hypnotic behavior (e.g., Council, 1999), the personality correlates of hypnotic responding (e.g., Nordenstrom, Council, & Meier, 2002), and context effects in hypnosis research (e.g., Council, Kirsch, & Hafner, 1986). Intl. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 67(4): 543–546, 2019 Copyright © International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis ISSN: 0020-7144 print / 1744-5183 online DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2019.1651174