Some Preconceptions about Hypnosis among Preclinical Medical Students: A Brief Communication

Abstract

372 preclinical medical students from the University of Sydney, Australia were surveyed concerning their beliefs about hypnosis and its medical use. Several “myths” concerning hypnosis emerged (e.g., hypnosis is a passive state, there are sex differences in hypnotizability, posthypnotic amnesia is inevitable, and there is automatic obedience to the hypnotist). Sex differences in expectations of hypnotizability were found. Relatively few physical problems were perceived as being amenable to treatment by hypnosis and the proportion of medical practitioners in the national professional hypnosis society was grossly underestimated.