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Changes in body attitude as a function of posthypnotic suggestions.
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Highly hypnotizable individuals experiencing amnesia for posthypnotic suggestions showed significant improvements in body attitude. This suggests amnesia enhances hypnotic suggestion effects in clinical practice and research.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Hypnosis Research
Background:
- Posthypnotic suggestions can influence behavior and attitudes.
- The role of amnesia in mediating the effects of hypnotic suggestions requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of amnesia for posthypnotic suggestions on body attitude.
- To compare the effects of amnesia in highly hypnotizable individuals versus simulators.
Main Methods:
- 48 females were assessed for hypnotic susceptibility using the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility.
- Participants were assigned to conditions involving high/low hypnotizability and suggested amnesia or no amnesia.
- The Body Attitude Scale was administered pre- and post-suggestion.
Main Results:
- Highly hypnotizable participants with suggested amnesia exhibited the most significant changes in body attitude and phenomenology.
- Simulating participants' performance indicated potential confounding effects of experimental demands.
Conclusions:
- Amnesia for posthypnotic suggestions appears to amplify their effects on body attitude in highly hypnotizable individuals.
- Findings have implications for understanding hypnosis mechanisms and therapeutic applications.