Can Somnambulists Successfully Simulate Hypnotic Behavior Without Becoming Entranced?

Abstract

For an unambiguous comparison of hypnosis and simulation, it is necessary to avoid confounding subject and treatment differences. Thus the comparison can best be made by utilizing samples from homogeneous groups of somnambulistic Ss. Such a procedure, however, assumes an affirmative answer to the question: can somnambulistic Ss successfully simulate hypnotic behavior without becoming entranced? This paper reports an observational study bearing on the problem. The results indicate that the question can be answered in the affirmative, particularly if Ss are given preliminary training.