An Experiment in “Step-Wise” Mutual Hypnosis and Shared Guided Fantasy

Abstract

Within a clinical training setting, four psychology interns undertook an experiment utilizing mutual hypnosis in the service of a shared guided fantasy. The interns' interest focused on (a) an attempt to increase the depth of hypnotic trance and rapport by “step-wise” mutual hypnosis, a procedure in which the hypnotist was himself first hypnotized by a fourth person before hypnotizing the two primary hypnosis Ss; and (b) an attempt, within this hypnosis setting, to establish a spontaneously shared guided fantasy between the two primary hypnosis Ss. Both reported (a) reaching greater depths of hypnotic trance than they had ever reached before, and (b) experiencing a very meaningful guided fantasy, characterized by a high degree of personal involvement and interpersonal rapport. When the guide terminated his interventions midway through the fantasy, the subjects spontaneously continued the shared guided fantasy themselves. The procedures utilized in this experiment have significant implications for both experimental and clinical use.