Rapport and Cognitive Skill Training in the Enhancement of Hypnotizability

Abstract

The role of interpersonal rapport in facilitating the enhancements in hypnotizability produced by cognitive skill training was examined in two experiments. In Experiment 1 low hypnotizable subjects either received skill training or passively oriented training that was designed to facilitate rapport with the trainer without teaching subjects how to generate the responses called for by test suggestions. Subjects in the two treatments reported equivalently high levels of rapport with their trainer, but only those given skill training attained large gains on two hypnotizability posttests. Subjects given passive training did not differ from untreated controls at posttesting. In Experiment 2 subjects received skill training under conditions designed to either heighten or minimize rapport with the trainer. Those in the high rapport condition showed large hypnotizability gains on both posttests, whereas those in the low rapport condition failed to differ from no treatment controls in this regard. Our findings indicate that high rapport is not sufficient for producing training-induced enhancements in hypnotizability. However, the absence of such rapport may interfere with subjects' learning and applying skills that can enhance hypnotizability.Hypnotizability test scores usually remain relatively stable even after long retest intervals, when no systematic attempts have been made to alter subjects hypnotic responsiveness [1] . Relatedly, numerous studies which attempted to enhance hypnotizability by training subjects in relaxation, meditation, or other procedures designed to alter consciousness usually produced only small and often nonsignificant increments in hypnotizability [see 2 for a review] . Taken together, these fmdings have led some investigators to conceptualize *

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

“…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). Spanos (1990) Groot, 1987Spanos et al, 199153 Spanos, Burgess, et al, 100 1993 Note. "Created highs" correspond to initial lows who scored high after training.…”

“…He argues, however, that behavioral compliance alone cannot adequately explain skilltraining-induced enhancement in hypnotizability. His arguments against a compliance account are based on several studies that compared the performance of three groups: skill-trained subjects, natural high hypnotizables, and low hypnotizables explicitly instructed to fake hypnosis to fool the experimenter (i.e., simulators) (Spanos et al, 1995;Spanos, Burgess, Roncon, Wallace-Carpetta, & Cross, 1993;Spanos & Flynn, 1989;Spanos, Lush, & Gwynn, 1989).…”

“…The researchers who replicated studies on the CSTP outside Carleton University usually obtained a smaller increase (Bates & Brigham, 1990;Bates, Miller, Cross, & Brigham, 1988;Bertrand, Stam, & Radtke, 1993;Gfeller, Lynn, & Pribble, 1987). The effects of the CSTP generalized to difficult novel suggestions that were not included in the training procedure (Gfeller et al, 1987;Gorassini & Spanos, 1986a;Spanos et al, 1995;Spanos & Flynn, 1989;Spanos, Flynn, & Gabora, 1993;Spanos, Lush, & Gwynn, 1989) and did not diminish with time (Spanos, Cross, Menary, & Smith, 1988;Spanos, Dubreuil, & Gabora, 1991).…”

Surreptitiously observed hypnotic responding in simulators and in skill-trained and untrained high hypnotizables.

“…CSTP Skill training was individually administered to subjects by a female experimenter in a single session of approximately 75-min duration. The CSTP is described in more detail elsewhere (Gorassini & Spanos, 1986;Spanos et al, 1986). Briefly, subjects were provided with information aimed at removing misconceptions and inculcating positive attitudes toward hypnosis.…”

Hypnotic suggestibility enhancement through brief cognitive skill training.

“…Scores on hypnotic suggestibility scales have been enhanced significantly and often substantially in initially low-scoring subjects through cognitive skill training procedures (Bates & Kraft, in press; Bates, Miller, Cross, & Brigham, 1988; Diamond, 1972; Gfeller, Lynn, & Pribble, 1987; Gorassini & Spanos, 1986; Katz, 1979; Kinney & Sachs, 1974; Sachs & Anderson, 1967; Spanos, Cross, Menary, Brett, & de Groh, 1987; Spanos, de Groh, & de Groot, 1987; Spanos & Flynn, 1989; Spanos, Lush, & Gwynn, 1989; Spanos, Robertson, Menary, & Brett, 1986; Spanos, Robertson, Menary, Brett, & Smith, 1987; Springer, Sachs, & Morrow, 1977). In this approach, an attempt is made to get subjects (a) to interpret each suggestion of the hypnotist as defining a role to be enacted and (b) to generate the thoughts and experiences as well as behaviors defined by the role.…”