Developmental-Stage Regression Through Hypnosis

Abstract

Twenty subjects serving as their own controls were given four developmental tasks under conditions of hypnotic regression ( R ) and hypnotic simulation ( S ). Scored interview data were correlated with performances under R and S . Findings: (a) The Ss' pattern of responses is best conceptualized as a “mixed” regression rather than “true” developmental regression. (b) Even when Ss are used as their own controls, the R condition is productive of a greater mean number of childlike responses than is the S condition, disregarding response patterns. (c) The S condition scores provide measures of a set of relatively independent, the R condition of a set of relatively unitary performance variables; this in the same Ss. (d) Factor analysis yielded three orthogonal factors: “outcome by test performance,” a personality constellation and a factor describing interpersonal actions. The specific situational variable with greatest impact on test performance was the subject's ability to pretend.