Hypnosis and Attention: A Review

Abstract

Two seemingly contradictory formulations in hypnosis literature are reviewed: That hypnotic induction can produce a condition of diffuse attention, and that hypnotic induction can produce a condition of selective attention. It is concluded that either condition can be produced, depending on the set, level of arousal, individual differences, type of task to be performed, type of instructions, etc. It is also suggested that diffuse attention and selective attention be kept conceptually distinct since the terms may reflect a series of related processes rather than a dichotomy.