Charles Manson was not a trained hypnotist in any formal or professional sense. Although he is often described as having a powerful ability to influence and control his followers, this influence was not the result of any official training or expertise in hypnosis. Manson never studied or practiced hypnosis in a recognized or certified manner.
His capacity to manipulate people came more from his intense personality, charisma, and psychological tactics rather than from hypnotic techniques. He was adept at exploiting the vulnerabilities of others—particularly young people who were isolated or searching for meaning—and used a mix of persuasion, intimidation, and emotional manipulation to create a devoted group known as the "Manson Family."
Manson’s methods involved verbal suggestion, repetition, and creating a sense of dependency and fear, which can resemble certain elements of hypnosis but are not the same as clinical or stage hypnosis. His control over his followers was more about psychological dominance and creating an environment where his followers accepted his worldview unquestioningly.
In summary, while Manson’s influence might sometimes be described metaphorically as “hypnotic” because of how effectively he controlled people, he was never formally trained in hypnosis nor did he use it in a technical or trained way.