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Literalism and hypnosis: hypnotic versus task-motivated subjects
S J Lynn1, J P Green, J R Weekes
1Psychology Department, Ohio University, Athens 45701.
The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis
|October 1, 1990
Summary
This study found that hypnotized subjects responded nonliterally 87.5% of the time, challenging previous research on hypnosis and literalism. Hypnotized and task-motivated participants showed no significant difference in literal responses.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Previous research suggested literalism is a key feature of hypnosis.
- Milton Erickson's work indicated high rates of literal responses in hypnotized subjects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rate of literalism in hypnotized, highly hypnotizable individuals.
- To compare literalism rates between hypnotized and nonhypnotized, task-motivated, highly hypnotizable subjects.
- To evaluate Erickson's assertion regarding literalism as a cardinal feature of hypnosis.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving two groups of highly hypnotizable participants (N=12 each): one hypnotized, one nonhypnotized and task-motivated.
- Six literalism-testing questions, similar to those used by Erickson, were administered.
- Responses were scored as literal if "Yes" or "No" (verbal or nonverbal).
Main Results:
- Hypnotized, highly hypnotizable subjects exhibited nonliteral responses 87.5% of the time.
- No significant difference in literal responding was found between the hypnotized and nonhypnotized, task-motivated groups.
- Individual question scores and summed scores did not differ between the groups.
Conclusions:
- The study did not find support for Erickson's claim that literalism is a cardinal feature of hypnosis.
- Literalism rates in highly hypnotizable individuals do not appear to be significantly higher when hypnotized compared to when task-motivated.
- Findings suggest that literalism may not be as central to the hypnotic experience as previously proposed.