Hypnotizability is modifiable: An alternative approach

Goal-directed fantasy does not explain the training effect of the carleton skills training package

“…In the present study, subjects' attitudes toward hypnosis, and presumably the willingness to experience it, changed, but, as previous studies on the modification of hypnotic susceptibility have clearly documented (Crouse & Kurtz, 1984;Diamond, 1977;Gregory & Diamond, 1973;Vickery & Kirsch, 1991), these changes did not suffice to evoke increases in hypnotic responsiveness comparable to the CSTP results. Bates (1990) suspects that CSTP-induced hypnotizability gains may reflect compliance, and he and his colleagues have attempted to address this problem in several studies (Bates, 1992;Bates & Brigham, 1990;Bates & Kraft, 1991;Bates et al, 1988).…”

Electromyographic Feedback and Taped Relaxation Instructions to Modify Hypnotic Susceptibility and Amnesia

“…These claims have been based on high retest reliability of hypnotizability scores using the same hypnotist, different hypnotists, different induction procedures, and different item content of the hypnotizability tests (Perry, 1977). Diamond (1977) has argued that hypnotizability is a skill which can be 14 learned. He presented evidence consistent with the skill viewpoint.…”

“…He suggested future researchers routinely report correlations between pre-and posttesting. Diamond (1977), on the other hand, suggested that potent training procedures can meaningfully alter the relationship between initial and posttreatment susceptibility. Diamond also cited evidence that moderately susceptible subjects are affected by training as much as or more than low susceptible subjects.…”

“…This is rather surprising considering the clinical importance of hypnotic amnesia, and the fact that this is often described as being the best indicator of whether or not a subject is deeply hypnotized. Diamond (1977) acknowledged the importance of determining whether or not subjects can be trained to experience somnambulistic or extremely deep hypnosis using the various modification procedures. He cited two studies (Burns, 1976;Wiseman & Reyher, 1962) where the largest gain -in hypnotizability occurred on an item measuring posthypnotic amnesia.…”

Emotional Self-Regulation Therapy for Smoking Reduction: Description and Initial Empirical Data

“…This approach has provided an alternative to conceptions of hypnosis as a state and of hypnotic susceptibility as a permanent trait. Training programs for increasing hypnotic responsiveness have been carried out by Barber and Wilson (1977), Katz (1979), Diamond (1977), Sachs and Anderson (1967), and recently by Spanos, Lush, and Gwynn (1989). These training programs have inspired therapeutic procedures (Araoz, 1985;Barber, 1985) based on an approach oriented more to the client than to the hypnotist.…”