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The phenomenology of the experiences and the depth of hypnosis: comparison of direct and indirect induction techniques.

C Szabó

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis July 1993 DOI: 10.1080/00207149308414552 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized crossover experiment Peer reviewed
Sample size 44
Population Adults participating in a hypnosis experiment (hypnotizability assessed via Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form B)
Interventions Traditional direct hypnosis Indirect hypnosis
Duration 4 minutes of rest before dehypnosis; each induction followed by rest
Measures Subjective scale of hypnotic depth, Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory, Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale Form A, Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale Form B
Topics Philosophy of mind
Key findings Direct and indirect hypnotic inductions produced no differences in the structure of subjective experience. Low and medium hypnotizable participants reported indirect hypnosis as deeper, which the authors suggest may reflect different mechanisms operating for high versus lower hypnotizable individuals.

Abstract

The effect of two hypnotic induction styles on subjective experience was measured in an experiment in which 44 subjects participated in both traditional direct hypnosis, induced by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form A, and indirect hypnosis (presented in counterbalanced order), followed by 4 minutes of rest before dehypnosis. The depth of hypnosis was measured retrospectively by a subjective scale, and the structure of experiences was measured by the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory. Subjects were subsequently administered the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form B, so that awareness of their hypnotizability would not affect their subjective depth reports. No differences were found in a comparison of subjects' structure of experiences in direct and indirect hypnosis. In addition, low and medium hypnotizable subjects reported indirect hypnosis as deeper. This may reflect the possibility that while hypnotized different mechanisms come into play for subjects high in hypnotizability compared to those who are less hypnotizable.

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The phenomenology of acute THC-psychosis Healthy subjects 2009 Randomized controlled trial n = 22

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