A comparison of the effects of standardized Chiasson and eye-closure inductions on susceptibility scores

Numerous induction techniques have been described in the literature, many of which are standardized, facilitating their use in research. Recent studies have compared inductions for their effects on susceptibility scores (e.g., Spanos, Lush, Smith, & de Groh, 1986; Woolson, 1986), finding little or no differences. In the present study we tested a Chiasson (1973) induction technique (recently standardized) for its relative efficacy at inducing hypnosis as measured by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form A (SHSS:A) of Weitzenhoffer and Hilgard (1959). Subjects were 80 volunteer undergraduates at a midwestern university. We administered the SHSS:A using its standard eye-closure induction to half of the subjects; half were given the SHSS:A using the Chiasson induction. Following dehypnosis, all subjects gave a subjective rating of their depth. The results indicated that the two standard inductions have a comparable effectiveness as measured by susceptibility scores and subjective depth ratings.