Psychology 2011A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Hypnotic Susceptibility, Ernest Hilgard, Stationary Bicycle

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2011A/B
• Professor: Imants Baruss

Document Summary

A hypnotist speaks while a person being hypnotized, called a hypnotic subject listens. There are many variations of hypnotic induction. Hypnotic subjects can be hypnotized individually or in groups and the induction may be done in person or via recording; allowing self hypnosis to be possible. An example of active alert hypnosis: participants peddling a stationary bicycle, receive suggestions that the peddling would not seem difficult and the room would seem bright and that alertness would be increased as the peddling went on. The word trance has approximately been used to refer to states of consciousness in which the appearance of awareness is present but that are actually sleep like states characterized by involuntary behavior and decreased environmental responsiveness. The point of induction is too do whatever it takes to try and get a person into the state of trance. Following an induction, a hypnotic subject would normally be given suggestions.