2 papers in the library · publishing 2026
February 27, 2026 Kevin Sheldrake, Zoltan Dienes preprint
Hypnosis is shown to be one of many ways a general capacity for phenomenological control shows itself. Phenomenological control is an evolved capacity to deceive ourselves so as to support socially useful beliefs. It allows one to strategically construct subjective experiences that misrepresent reality despite contradictory evidence in order to meet goals. It is so good at its evolved function...
The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis 2026 Kevin Sheldrake, Yesesvi Konakanchi, Zoltan Dienes
The micro-phenomenological interview is a technique for investigating phenomenology in detail during an activity lasting seconds to minutes. Here, we applied it to understanding the moment-to-moment experiences of subjects responding to imaginative suggestions that were aimed at temporarily altering perceived reality through deployment of phenomenological control. Our intention was to generate...