Date of Award

12-1991

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of two hypnotic suggestions on hypnotic performance in medium hypnotizable subjects. Subjects were exposed at separate intervals to either an hypnotic suggestion patter containing specific imagery or alternatively to a suggestion patter that provided only general problem-solving direction. Hypnotic performance was assessed using tolerance and threshold measures on a cold-pressor test.

The problem-solving suggestions were shown to increase both threshhold and tolerance of noxious stimulation. The imagery suggestions proved to be effective only for the threshhold measure.

These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the use of hypnosis with subjects who do not show high hypnotizability when traditional hypnotic suggestions are used. In addition, implications for the classification of subjects along hypnotizability dimensions are discussed. Further research is recommended to clarify the impact of these experimental conditions on low hypnotizable subjects. Information gathered from this study may contribute to the development of more effective hypnotic suggestions for use with moderately hypnotizable individuals in clinical settings.

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