Hypnosis and the dream hidden observer: Primary process and demand characteristics.
Cornelia Maré, Steven Jay Lynn, Steven A. Kvaal, David M. Segal, Et Al.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology 1994 DOI: 10.1037//0021-843x.103.2.316 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 79 |
| Population | Adults screened for hypnotizability: virtuoso, high hypnotizable, medium hypnotizable, and low hypnotizable simulating participants |
| Intervention | Hypnotic dream suggestion |
| Measures | Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A), Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Most participants reported dreams (81.8%) and hidden observers (80%), with hidden reports showing more personal content, less primary process, and poorer recall than dream reports. Hypnotizable participants' dreams contained more primary process than those of low hypnotizable simulators, which the authors present as support for M. R. Nash's (1991) psychoanalytic model. |
Abstract
In Study 1, virtuoso (n = 13; passed more than 10 suggestions on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A [HGSHS:A] and Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C), high hypnotizable (n = 14; passed more than 8 suggestions on the HGSHS:A), and medium hypnotizable (n = 17; passed 4-8 suggestions on the HGSHS:A) Ss were administered a hypnotic dream suggestion followed by a "dream hidden observer" suggestion (i.e., access hidden part; have new thoughts and images pertinent to dream). The majority of Ss reported dreams (81.8%) and hidden observers (80%), with hidden reports being characterized by more personal content, less primary processes, and poorer recall than dream reports. Study 2 replicated major findings. Although hypnotized (n = 18) and low hypnotizable simulating Ss (n = 17) responded comparably on most measures, hypnotizable Ss' dreams contained more primary process than did simulating Ss, providing support for M. R. Nash's (1991) psychoanalytic model.