Hypnotic Age Regression and the Autokinetic Effect

Abstract

Based on research with children, we hypothesized that hypnotically age-regressed adult subjects would respond differentially across stimuli conditions on the autokinetic illusion. We assigned 18 highly susceptible subjects, assessed on the Harvard Group Susceptibility Scale, to one of three treatment groups: waking control, standard hypnotic induction, and age regression. Three target shapes, a control stimulus (circle), a representational stimulus (profile of a man), and a symbolic stimulus (cross) were presented. Results failed to show reinstatement of childlike performance on this perceptual illusion. The conceptual and empirical implications for future age-regression studies on memory, perception, and emotion are discussed.