Hypnosis Chapter 3, Lecture 4 “Hypnotists have no magical mind-control power; they merely engage people’s ability to focus on certain images or behaviors.” - David Myers

Hypnosis Hypnos: Greek god of sleep A social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur. Hypnosis as Suggestibility…

Facts and Falsehood Those who practice hypnosis agree that its power resides in the subject’s openness to suggestion. Can anyone experience hypnosis? Yes, to some extent. Can hypnosis enhance recall of forgotten events? No.

Facts and Falsehood Can hypnosis be therapeutic? Yes. Self-suggestion can heal too. Can hypnosis alleviate pain? Yes. Lamaze can do that too. Can hypnosis force people to act against their will? No.

Explaining the Hypnotized State 1.Social Influence Theory: Hypnotic subjects may simply be imaginative actors playing a social role. 2.Divided Consciousness Theory: Hypnosis is a special state of dissociated (divided) consciousness (Hilgard, 1986, 1992). (Hilgard, 1992) Courtesy of News and Publications Service, Stanford University

Both Theories Mimi Forsyth

The Creative Imagination Scale In the first test, you were asked to imagine that one, two, and then three dictionaries were being piled on the palm of your hand. Compared to what you would have experienced if three dictionaries were actually on your hand, what you experienced was: % Not at all the same 25% A little the same 50% Between a little and much the same 75% Much the same 90+% Almost exactly the same Mean = 2.2

The Creative Imagination Scale In the second test, you were asked to picture yourself lying under the sun on a beach and becoming very relaxed. Compared to what you would have experienced if you were actually relaxing on a beach, what you experienced was: % Not at all the same 25% A little the same 50% Between a little and much the same 75% Much the same 90+% Almost exactly the same Mean = 2.7

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