Related Experiment Videos
Infant communication and the development of hypnotic responsivity
1Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis 63121-4499, USA. bvanden@umslvma.umsl.edu
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
|October 22, 1998
Summary
Hypnotic responsivity may originate in infancy, not after age 3. Early nonverbal communication and relational factors in infants may predict later hypnotic capacity, challenging previous developmental timelines.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Child Development
Background:
- Hypnotic responsivity traditionally assessed after age 3 using verbal measures.
- Infancy research suggests foundational capacities for hypnosis emerge earlier.
- Ontogenesis of hypnotic responsivity requires investigation in early development.
Purpose of the Study:
- Demonstrate infants' nonverbal communication capacities analogous to hypnosis.
- Identify infant situations analogous to hypnotic contexts.
- Examine infant attributes predicting later hypnotic responsivity.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of infant nonverbal communication.
- Observational studies of infant-environment interactions.
- Longitudinal assessment of dispositional and relational factors.
Main Results:
- Infants exhibit nonverbal skills relevant to hypnotic states.
- Specific infant-caregiver interactions mirror hypnotic contexts.
- Early individual differences in attention and social referencing correlate with later responsivity.
Conclusions:
- Hypnotic responsivity has roots in infancy.
- Nonverbal and relational factors are key to early hypnotic development.
- Infancy research offers new perspectives on hypnosis development.