The Relation of Need Achievement to Hypnotic Suggestibility

Abstract

50 S's participated in an experiment designed to determine whether there is a correlation between need achievement and hypnotic suggestibility. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation between need achievement scores and objective and subjective suggestibility scores on the Barber Suggestibility Scale (BSS), supporting Barber's contention that motivation plays a significant role in hypnotic suggestibility. S's were given an induction procedure, tested on the BSS and given the same projective test as that used by McClelland to determine need achievement. Since the correlations between need achievement scores and objective and subjective suggestibility scores were both significant, it appears that need achievement scores are related to hypnotic suggestibility.