The effects of indirect induction hypnosis and practice imagery on tertiary student goal achievement

Abstract

The effects of hypnosis and Practice Imagery (PI) on 51 tertiary students' achievement of goals were examined. PI involved directing participants through two imageries (succeeding with the goal and continuing without success) and further directing participants to practice moving back and forth between the two imageries to instill a sense of power over the goal and to provide practice in goal success. Seventeen hypnotized and 17 non-hypnotized subjects received identical imagery training by listening to an audio tape recording while 17 control subjects received no training. Hypnosis subjects received indirect induction hypnosis prior to hearing the tape. Goal Attainment Scaling was used to determine level of goal achievement. Hypnotized participants who received the PI treatment showed significantly greater goal achievement than control subjects. Implications for use of hypnosis combined with PI in tertiary school counselling centres are discussed.