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An experimental study of compliance and post-hypnotic amnesia
The British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
|September 1, 1977
Summary
Compliance significantly impacts post-hypnotic amnesia measurements. Allowing subjects to admit compliance before testing reduces amnesia effects, suggesting traditional methods may overestimate memory loss due to suggestibility.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Post-hypnotic amnesia is traditionally measured by recall before and after a release signal.
- This traditional method may be influenced by participant compliance.
- Investigating compliance effects is crucial for accurate amnesia assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that traditional post-hypnotic amnesia measures are biased by compliance.
- To develop a procedure to isolate and quantify the effect of compliance on amnesia.
Main Methods:
- A novel procedure was designed to assess post-hypnotic amnesia.
- Two groups of subjects were compared: one allowed to 'own-up' to compliance before testing (Group B), and another tested before owning up (Group A).
Main Results:
- A significant compliance effect was observed.
- Group A, tested before the opportunity to admit compliance, exhibited significantly more post-hypnotic amnesia than Group B.
Conclusions:
- The traditional method for measuring post-hypnotic amnesia is susceptible to compliance bias.
- Participant suggestibility and compliance can inflate the apparent extent of amnesia.
- Methodological adjustments are needed to accurately assess genuine hypnotic amnesia.