Effects of an affect bridge for age regression

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Hypnotic age regression aims to access earlier developmental stages.
• Assessing the authenticity of these accessed states is crucial for understanding hypnotic phenomena.
• Primary process thinking is a characteristic often associated with early childhood and altered states of consciousness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genuineness of age-regression experiences in highly hypnotizable individuals versus simulators.
• To differentiate between authentic primary process shifts and simulated responses during hypnotic age regression.
• To utilize specific measures to evaluate the depth and authenticity of hypnotic age regression.

Main Methods:

• Tailored hypnotic inductions with an affect bridge were used to access meaningful events.
• Participants were categorized as high hypnotizables-reals or low hypnotizables-simulators using the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C.
• Measures included emotional intensity, spontaneity, elaboration, and transitional object use to assess the topographic shift.

Main Results:

• Highly hypnotizable individuals (reals) exhibited significant differences in transitional object frequency, spontaneity, and emotional intensity compared to simulators.
• Simulators did not authentically replicate the primary-process childlike affective responses observed in the reals.
• Elaboration did not significantly differentiate between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• Authentic hypnotic age regression involves genuine shifts in cognitive and affective processes, not merely role-playing.
• The study highlights the validity of using specific behavioral markers to distinguish genuine hypnotic experiences from simulations.
• Affective responses and transitional object use appear to be key indicators of genuine primary process engagement during hypnotic age regression.