Psychological correlates of plateau hypnotizability in a special volunteer sample.

Abstract

A number of specific hypotheses about correlates of hypnotizability were tested. A sample of 25 Ss representative of the investigators' special volunteer population was drawn. The criterion of hypnotizability used was the maximum hypnotic depth achieved in as many intensive hypnotic training sessions as E needed in order to feel confident that a stable plateau in the S's performance had been reached. Findings confirmed the hypotheses that hypnotizability could be predicted from a general propensity for unusual subjective hypnotic-like experiences, from attitudes and motivational factors specifically relating to hypnosis, and from postural sway, heat illusion, and vividness of mental imagery. In addition, with few exceptions, the hypothesis was supported that there would be only negligible relationships between hypnotizability and measures of personality. Defining hypnotizability as a plateau performance rather than as some briefer estimate was shown to be cogent. (90 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)