The Relationship Between the Hypnotic Induction Profile and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C: Revisited

Abstract

Hilgard’s comment raises some important issues, although many of these have little to do with the primary purpose of the study under discussion. This purpose was to objectively examine the relationship between three conceptually and operationally different procedures for measuring hypnotic responsivity. Hilgard’s concern over the magnitude of the correlation between the HIP and SHSS:C is unfounded. A cross-validated correlation of .66 was found between the HIP and SHSS:C in a new sample of 44 student volunteers. This demonstrates that the HIP correlates about the same with SHSS:C as the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Hilgard’s conception of the Eye-Roll (ER) hypothesis is clarified. Evidence which utilizes all cases in the correlational analysis is presented in support of the ER hypothesis. Happily, we all agree on a new methodology which will be definitive in testing the validity of the ER hypothesis.

This article is the republished version of:

The Relationship between the Hypnotic Induction Profile and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C: Revisited

Notes

1. Two subjects who were administered the HIP and SHSS:C in this study were unable to complete the biofeedback phase of the experiment due to academic commitments. If these two subjects’ scores were included in computing the correlation between the HIP and SHSS:C, the correlation would be 4(26) = .63, p < .001.

2. Orne personally transmitted this value to H. Spiegel over the telephone. The value was published with Orne’s approval in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (of which Orne is the editor). The exact reference is: Spiegel, H., Aronson, M., Fleiss, J. L. & Haber, J. Pyschometric Analysis of the Hypnotic Induction Profile. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 1976, 24, 300–315.

3. Martin T. Orne, written personal communication dated November 2, 1973.

4. Undoubtedly, there are many potential blocks of manifest hypnotic responsivity. For example, unpublished data from our laboratory suggest that neurological impairments also moderate the expression of responsivity to hypnosis.