Influence of Motivational Instructions on Hypnotic and Nonhypnotic Reaction Time Performance

Abstract

Sixty Ss participated in a disjunctive reaction time study designed to test the effects of hypnosis on performance. It was hypothesized that the improvement which does take place under hypnosis is due to the positively motivating conditions, which may be implicit in the hypnotic induction procedure, and to variables such as relaxation, rather than to the effects of deep trance. Ss were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions: Hypnotic induction procedure with motivation instructions; hypnotic induction procedure without motivation instructions; motivation instructions; and no hypnotic nor motivation instructions. The reaction times of the motivation group and the hypnotic plus motivation group were not significantly different. Both groups did significantly better than the control group. The reaction times of the control group were significantly faster than those of the hypnotic without motivation group. High motivation was thought to account for the faster reaction times when hypnotic induction and motivation instructions were used than when no such procedure was used. Relaxation-sleep suggestions were thought to account for the significant difference in reaction time between the control group and the hypnotic without motivation group; they were also thought to account for the significant difference in reaction time between the hypnotic with motivation group and the hypnotic without motivation group.