Final answer:
Stage hypnotists influence people to perform strange actions due to a blend of not wanting to disrupt the act, reduced fear of embarrassment, and audience engagement, all underpinned by the social-cognitive and dissociation theories of hypnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most stage hypnotists get people to do strange things for a combination of reasons: a) the "hypnotized" volunteers may not want to spoil the act while on stage; b) the volunteers can act out without fear of embarrassment as they are "hypnotized"; and c) the response of the audience may encourage the volunteers to embrace their role with enthusiasm.
This can be explained by the social-cognitive theory of hypnosis, which sees people in hypnotic states as fulfilling the social role expected of them, as well as the dissociation view, which represents hypnosis as a distinct state of consciousness.
During a stage show, participants are usually guided to focus intently, made to feel comfortable, directed to trust the hypnotist, and encouraged to use their imagination—all steps that predispose them to a heightened state of suggestibility. This, combined with the hypnotist's expertise and the audience's engagement, leads to a compelling performance where volunteers are more inclined to partake in the experience due to these psychological and social dynamics.