Personality Correlates of Hypnotic Susceptibility: Needs for Achievement and Autonomy, Self-monitoring, and Masculinity-Femininity

Abstract

A total of 1300 subjects in six samples completed a short battery of personality questionnaires and the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A). Measured hypnotic susceptibility correlated significantly with scores on Tellegen's Absorption Scale (mean r = .27), but not with the Achievement and Autonomy Scales of the PRF (mean r = .11 and .09, respectively), or with Snyder's Self-monitoring Scale (mean r = .01). Subject gender did not moderate the correlations between personality and hypnosis; nor did achievement, autonomy, or self-monitoring scores moderate the correlation between absorption and hypnotizability. Overall, women scored slightly higher than men on HGSHS:A. A further analysis employing Bem's Sex-Role Inventory showed only that the hypnotizability scores of undifferentiated men and women were depressed relative to their androgynous counterparts.