The effect of a good and a poor model on hypnotic susceptibility in a low demand situation

Abstract

A review of recent studies reveals that there has yet to be a clear demonstration of a behavioral model affecting hypnotic levels. Two studies were conducted to test whether a peer model who portrayed deep or light hypnosis could affect S hypnotizability under minimal demand conditions. Using a low demand version of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (Shor & E. Orne, 19621, the first study showed a difference (Good Model scoring higher than Poor Model) that only approached significance. A replication on a larger Sample, however, showed significantly higher scores for those Ss observing a good model rather than a poor model. Although base scores were not obtained on these Ss, norms from comparable populations suggest that the poor model seems more effective than the good modek but this difference does not appear attributable to differential attitudes created by the models.