Positive Health Online

Abstract

BRAFFMAN and KIRSCH, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-1020, USA investigated hypnotic and nonhypnotic suggestibility in two experiments.

Background

Methodology

Results

In experiment 1, nonhypnotic suggestibility was suppressed when measured after hypnotic suggestibility, whereas hypnotic suggestibility was not affected by the order of assessment. Experiment 2 confirmed a small but significant effect of hypnosis on suggestibility when nonhypnotic suggestibility was measured first . Nonhypnotic suggestibility was correlated with absorption, fantasy proneness, motivation and response expectancy . However, only expectancy predicted suggestibility when other variables were controlled for. Behavioural response to hypnosis was predicted by nonhypnotic suggestibility, motivation and expectancy in a model accounting for 53% of the variance. The experimental response to hypnotic suggestibility was predicted only by nonhypnotic suggestibility . Unexpectedly, hypnosis decreased suggestibility in a substantial minority of participants.

Conclusion

References

Braffman W, Kirsch I. Imaginative suggestibility and hypnotizability: an empirical analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 77 (3): 578-87. Sep 1999.