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Related Experiment Videos

Hypnotically induced emotional numbing: a real-simulating analysis.

Richard A Bryant1, David Mallard

  • 1School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. R.Bryant@unsw.edu.au

Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|February 28, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Hypnosis can reduce emotional responses to distressing images, but physiological responses differ between truly hypnotized individuals and simulators. True hypnosis shows a dissociation between emotional awareness and response.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychophysiology

Background:

  • Hypnosis is a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness.
  • Understanding the psychophysiological correlates of hypnotic suggestions is crucial for its clinical application.
  • Previous research suggests hypnosis can modulate emotional and perceptual experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the psychophysiological effects of hypnotic suggestion for emotional numbing.
  • To compare the responses of genuinely hypnotized individuals (reals) with those simulating hypnosis (simulators).
  • To examine the dissociation between affective response and awareness under hypnosis.

Main Methods:

  • 20 real (hypnotized) and 20 simulator (unhypnotized) participants were recruited.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants underwent hypnotic induction and were presented with emotionally distressing and neutral visual stimuli.
  • A hypnotic suggestion for emotional numbing was administered to half of the participants in each group.
  • Electromyographic (EMG) activity and self-reported responsivity were measured.

    • Main Results:

    • Both reals and simulators receiving the numbing suggestion reported reduced responsivity to distressing stimuli.
    • Emotionally numb reals showed minimal EMG changes to distressing images, unlike simulators who exhibited significant EMG reduction.
    • Genuine hypnosis (reals) demonstrated a dissociation between affective response and awareness of negative stimuli after the numbing suggestion.

    Conclusions:

    • Hypnotic suggestion for emotional numbing effectively reduces subjective responsivity in both real and simulated hypnosis.
    • Physiological measures (EMG) differentiate between genuine hypnotic effects and simulation, with reals showing less physiological arousal.
    • Genuine hypnosis induces a unique dissociation between emotional experience and cognitive awareness of distressing stimuli.