The Objectionable Act as a Mechanism for Testing the Coercive Power of the Hypnotic State

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to determine the extent to which hypnotic Ss and simulators would perform two tasks that might be objectionable, but not antisocial, criminal or illegal. Fourteen percent of the hypnotizable Ss and 16% of the simulators declined to cut an American flag in half. Thirty-three percent of the hypnotizable Ss and 20% of the simulators refused to mutilate a Bible. Overall, 19.7% of the Ss in the two experiments did not carry out one or both of the requested tasks. None of the differences between hypnotizable subjects and simulators in compliance rates is statistically significant. It is concluded first, that the objectionable task appears suitable for research into the coercive power of hypnosis and second, that hypnosis probably cannot be used generally to coerce behavior.