Expert judgments of hypnosis from subjective state reports.
I Kirsch, C P Mobayed, J R Council, D A Kenny
Journal of Abnormal Psychology November 1992 DOI: 10.1037//0021-843x.101.4.657 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study with expert ratings Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | College students |
| Interventions | Traditional hypnotic induction Alert induction Progressive relaxation training |
| Key findings | Expert ratings of subjects' open-ended reports indicated that traditional hypnotic inductions produce a state of consciousness indistinguishable from nonhypnotic relaxation training, that the subjective experience of hypnotic suggestions after imagination training is indistinguishable from that after hypnotic inductions, and that suggestibility is unrelated to state of consciousness as assessed by experts. Responsiveness to suggestion did not differ between the four induction groups. |
Abstract
Suggestibility was assessed in 60 college students after a traditional hypnotic induction, an alert induction, progressive relaxation training, or instruction in goal-directed imagery. Responsiveness to suggestion did not differ between groups. Subjects also generated open-ended reports of their states of awareness and of their experience of 3 hypnotic suggestions. A sample of these reports from 24 moderately to highly suggestible subjects were evaluated by 18 experts in the field of hypnosis. Expert ratings of subjects' open-ended reports indicated that (a) traditional hypnotic inductions produce a state of consciousness that is indistinguishable from nonhypnotic relaxation training, (b) the subjective experience of hypnotic suggestions after imagination training is indistinguishable from that after hypnotic inductions, and (c) suggestibility is unrelated to state of consciousness as assessed by experts.