Hypnotic susceptibility and familial handedness

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Genetics

Background:

• Hypnotic susceptibility is a trait that varies significantly among individuals.
• Handedness, the preference for using one hand over the other, has a known genetic component.
• The potential link between these two traits has not been extensively studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between hypnotic susceptibility and familial handedness.
• To determine if the presence of left-handed (sinistral) or right-handed (dextral) relatives influences an individual's level of hypnotic susceptibility.

Main Methods:

• A mass-testing approach was used with students in introductory psychology courses.
• Participants completed the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A.
• A questionnaire gathered data on participants' dominant handedness and that of their immediate family members.

Main Results:

• Subjects with immediate sinistral relatives exhibited significantly lower hypnotic susceptibility scores compared to those with a history of familial dextrality.
• When immediate relatives were assessed, sinistral relatives demonstrated lower hypnotic susceptibility than dextral relatives.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest a potential familial component influencing hypnotic susceptibility.
• Sinistrality within a family may be associated with reduced hypnotic susceptibility.