Hypnotic Age Regression and the Importance of Assessing Interpersonally Relevant Affect

What, if anything, is regressed about hypnotic age regression? A review of the empirical literature.

“…The hypnotically age-regressed subjects in the Nash, Johnson, et al (1979) and Nash, Lynn, et al (1985) studies behaved in a manner roughly appropriate to 3-year-old children across all three aspects of interaction with the transitional object. The performance of simulators was significantly different from childhood norms and was significantly different from the performance of the hypnotically age-regressed subjects.…”

“…According to Kihlstrom (1985), the only adequately designed studies that present some evidence for a more complete reproduction of childlike personality functioning during hypnotic age regression were carried out by Nash, Johnson, and Tipton (1979) and Nash, Lynn, Stanley, Frauman, and Rhue (1985). Gaddini, 1970;Rudhe & Ekecrantz, 1974;Winnicott, 1953).…”

“…The performance of simulators was significantly different from childhood norms and was significantly different from the performance of the hypnotically age-regressed subjects. Nash, Johnson, et al (1979) and Nash, Lynn, et al (1985) suggested that under some circumstances, there may be a partial reinstatement of interpersonally relevant affective processes during hypnotic age regression.…”

Age Regression: Tailored versus Scripted Inductions

“…In the only regression studies that Kihlstrom (1985) considered to be adequately designed, Nash, Johnson, and Tipton (1979) and Nash, Lynn, Stanley, Frauman, and Rhue (1985) showed evidence of essentially complete reproduction of childlike personality functioning. Crawford, Wallace, Katsuhiko, and Slater (1985) also reported the reinstatement of eidetic imagery, found in children but not adults, for high but not low hypnotizable participants.…”

Effectiveness of hypnosis interventions in a spine rehabilitation program

“…Researchers have also noted less common complaints of panic, anxiety, and unexpected reactions in clinical hypnosis settings (Judd, Burrows, & Dennerstein, 1985). Notably, the studies in which negative affective reactions were present were situations where insight-focused hypnosis was used with age regression techniques (Nash, Johnson, & Tipton, 1979;Nash, Lynn, Stanley, Frauman, & Rhue, 1985).…”