Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

Hypnosis159HypnosisKey Theme• During hypnosis, people respond to suggestions with changes inperception, memory, and behavior.Key Questions• What characteristics are associated with responsiveness to hypnoticsuggestions?• What are some important effects of hypnosis?• How has hypnosis been explained?What is hypnosis? Definitions vary, but hypnosis can be defined as a cooperative socialinteraction in which the hypnotic participant responds to suggestions made by the hypnotist.These suggestions for imaginative experiences can produce changes in perception,memory, thoughts, and behavior (American Psychological Association, 2005).For many people the word hypnosis conjures up the classic but sinister image of ahypnotist inducing hypnosis by slowly swinging a pocket watch back and forth. But,as psychologist John Kihlstrom (2001) explains, “The hypnotist does not hypnotizethe individual. Rather, the hypnotist serves as a sort of coach or tutor whose job isto help the person become hypnotized.” After experiencing hypnosis, some peopleare able to self-induce hypnosis.The word hypnosis is derived from the Greek hypnos, meaning “sleep.” The ideathat the hypnotized person is in a sleeplike trance is still very popular among thegeneral public. However, the phrase hypnotic trance is misleading and rarely used byresearchers today (Wagstaff, 1999). When hypnotized, people do not lose controlof their behavior. Instead, they typically remain aware of where they are, who theyare, and what is transpiring.Rather than being a sleeplike trance, hypnosis is characterized by highly focusedattention, increased responsiveness to suggestions, vivid images and fantasies, and awillingness to accept distortions of logic or reality. During hypnosis, the person temporarilysuspends her sense of initiative and voluntarily accepts and follows the hypnotist’sinstructions (Hilgard, 1986a).Although most adults are moderately hypnotizable, people vary in their responsivenessto hypnotic suggestions (see Kihlstrom, 2007). About 15 percent of adultsare highly susceptible to hypnosis, and 10 percent are difficult or impossible to hypnotize.Children tend to be more responsive to hypnosis than are adults, and childrenas young as 5 years old can be hypnotized (Kuttner & Catchpole, 2007).Evidence suggests that the degree of susceptibility to hypnosis tends to run infamilies. For example, identical twins are more similar in their susceptibility tohypnosis than are fraternal twins (Nash, 2001).The best candidates for hypnosis are individuals who approach the experience withpositive, receptive attitudes. The expectation that you will be responsive to hypnosisalso plays an important role (Kirsch & others, 1995; Silva & others, 2005). People whoare highly susceptible to hypnosis have the ability to become deeply absorbedin fantasy and imaginary experience. For instance, they easily become absorbed in readingfiction, watching movies, and listening to music (Kihlstrom, 2007).How Is the Hypnotic State Produced? In awilling volunteer, hypnosis can be inducedin a variety of ways, but swinging a pocketwatch is usually not one of them. Instead,as psychologist Michael Nash demonstrates,hypnosis is more commonly inducedby speaking in a calm, monotonousvoice, suggesting that the person is becomingdrowsy, sleepy, and progressivelymore relaxed. To help the volunteer focusher attention, the hypnotist may also askher to concentrate on a simple visual stimulus,such as a spot on the wall.Effects of HypnosisDeeply hypnotized subjects sometimes experience profound changes in their subjectiveexperience of consciousness. They may report feelings of detachment from their bodies,profound relaxation, or sensations of timelessness. More commonly, hypnotizedpeople converse normally and remain fully aware of their surroundings. Often, they willlater report that carrying out the hypnotist’s suggestions seemed to happen by itself.The action seems to take place outside the hypnotized person’s will or volition.hypnosis(hip-NO-sis) A cooperative social interactionin which the hypnotized person responds tothe hypnotist’s suggestions with changes inperception, memory, and behavior.