Related Experiment Videos
Experiential scoring for the Waterloo-Stanford Group C scale
I Kirsch1, L S Milling, C Burgess
1Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-1020, USA.
Summary
A new scale reliably measures subjective hypnotic experiences, complementing behavioral scoring. This enhanced approach offers a more comprehensive assessment of suggestibility in research and clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Hypnotism Research
Background:
- The Waterloo-Stanford Group C scale (WSGC) is a group adaptation of the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form C (SHSS:C).
- Assessing subjective experiences alongside behavioral responses in hypnosis is crucial for a complete understanding of suggestibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a new scale for measuring subjective experiences related to WSGC hypnotic suggestions.
- To determine the reliability and validity of this experiential scoring scale.
Main Methods:
- A novel experiential scoring scale was developed to assess subjective responses to WSGC suggestions.
- This scale was administered to 926 students at the University of Connecticut, alongside the standard WSGC behavioral scoring.
- Normative data were collected from this student sample.
Main Results:
- The experiential scoring scale demonstrated high reliability and validity as a measure of suggestibility.
- The findings indicate that subjective experience is a significant component of hypnotic suggestibility.
- Correlation between experiential and behavioral scores was not explicitly detailed but implied to be complementary.
Conclusions:
- The newly developed experiential scoring scale is a reliable and valid tool for assessing subjective hypnotic experiences.
- Supplementing traditional behavioral scoring of the WSGC with experiential scoring can provide a more comprehensive evaluation of an individual's suggestibility.
- This dual-scoring approach may enhance the utility of the WSGC in research and clinical applications.