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Language, mysticism, and hypnotizability: a brief communication
1University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. p.adams@auckland.ac.nz
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
|December 7, 2007
Summary
Individuals with mystical or religious experiences show a higher susceptibility to hypnotic suggestion. This suggests a link between openness to profound experiences and responsiveness to hypnosis, warranting further research into this connection.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Religious Studies
Background:
- Religious and mystical experiences often employ vague language, similar to hypnotic induction techniques.
- This linguistic overlap suggests a potential connection between these distinct psychological states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if individuals with mystical or religious experiences exhibit increased susceptibility to hypnotic suggestion.
- To explore the relationship between openness to profound experiences and hypnotizability.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-one participants completed the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS) and the Hood Mysticism Scale (HMS).
- Participants were categorized into high, ambiguous, and low mysticism groups based on HMS scores.
Main Results:
- The high mysticism group demonstrated significantly higher hypnotizability scores compared to the low mysticism group.
- A positive correlation was observed between mysticism scores and hypnotic susceptibility.
Conclusions:
- Openness to mystical and religious experiences is associated with greater susceptibility to hypnotic suggestion.
- The findings support the hypothesis of a shared psychological pathway or predisposition for both mystical experiences and hypnotizability.
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