The Role of Verbal Reinforcement in Hypnosis

Summary

This study investigated the effects of verbal reinforcement, delivered during the induction and test suggestion phases of hypnosis, on responsiveness to hyponotic suggestions and subjective ratings of the vividness of suggested experiences. An attempt was also made to assess the role of awareness of the reinforcement contingencies on responsiveness. Subjects reinforced in the test suggestion phase alone (I-BSSr) demonstrated more responsiveness than subjects reinforced in neither phase (I-BSS) or in the induction phase alone (Ir-BSS). Significantly more subjects receiving reinforcement in either the test suggestion or both phases (I-BSSr, Ir-BSSr) reported awareness than was the case when subjects were reinforced in the induction phase alone (Ir-BSS). There were no significant differences between groups on the vividness measure. The results support the contention that verbal reinforcement may enhance “hypnotic” behaviors.