Hypnotizability and task motivating suggestions: A further look at how they affect performance

Abstract

An attempt was made to ferret out the separate effects on cognitive performance of hypnotic susceptibility, task motivating suggestions, and the hypnotic trance state. An equal number of susceptible and unsusceptible Ss were given 3 cognitive tasks, first to ascertain their baseline performances, and then again following either a traditional hypnotic induction, an alert trance induction or a short interview. All Ss were given task motivating suggestions prior to administering the alternate form of the 3 tasks. An additional control group of Ss was used to assess practice effects. Results indicated that task motivating suggestions were effective in enhancing performance for all groups on the digit symbol and abstract reasoning tasks but not on the memory task. Waking suggestion Ss performed as well as hypnotized Ss when both groups of Ss were given task motivating suggestions. It was concluded that when the experimental design of a study incorporates necessary controls, hypnosis does not facilitate performance.