Myths and misconceptions about hypnosis and suggestion: Separating fact and fiction

Abstract

We present 21 prominent myths and misconceptions about hypnosis in order to promulgate accurate information and to highlight questions for future research. We argue that these myths and misconceptions have (a) fostered a skewed and stereotyped view of hypnosis among the lay public, (b) discouraged participant involvement in potentially helpful hypnotic interventions, and (c) impeded the exploration and application of hypnosis in scientific and practitioner communities. Myths reviewed span the view that hypnosis produces a trance or special state of consciousness and allied myths on topics related to hypnotic interventions; hypnotic responsiveness and the modification of hypnotic suggestibility; inducing hypnosis; and hypnosis and memory, awareness, and the experience of nonvolition. By demarcating myth from mystery and fact from fiction, and by highlighting what is known as well as what remains to be discovered, the science and practice of hypnosis can be advanced and grounded on a firmer empirical footing.

Hypnotic suggestions cognitively penetrate tactile perception through top-down modulation of semantic contents

“…Even though a self-report measure is advantageous for an analysis of the perceived internal state, relying on external judgements was both more time efficient and allowed for a better judgement of the hypnotisability in general. This is in line with recent discussion in hypnosis research, demonstrating a low internal consistency of hypnotisability scales (see 44 ). As we were not concerned with the nature of the hypnotic experience for this experiment, external judgement was sufficient to validate general hypnotisability.…”

Best Practice Recommendations for Conducting and Reporting Controlled Trials in Clinical Hypnosis Research

“…The following works provide good summaries about the potential impacts of attitudes and beliefs related to hypnosis. 96 , 97 …”

A new experimental paradigm to investigate how imagery-based suggestions are embodied

“…The present paper does not aim to develop a comparative analysis of the heuristic relevance of these different definitions. But interested readers may find an exposition of different points of view in the publications of Elkins et al (2015) and Lynn et al (2020). 2.…”