Piaget's mountains revisited: Changes in the egocentric landscape.

Re-examined the theoretical question of early childhood egocentrism in relation to characteristics of the task and the method used to communicate the response. Variations were introduced in Piaget and B. Inhelder's (1956) mountain experiment to insure the age appropriateness of the task for 3- and 4-yr-olds (N = 22). When presented with a perceptual role-taking task within their response capabilities, Ss were capable of understanding another person's perspective. This suggests that previous conclusions regarding early egocentrism resulted from young children's inability to perform on tasks which were too difficult for them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expert judgments of hypnosis from subjective state reports.

Suggestibility was assessed in 60 college students after a traditional hypnotic induction, an alert induction, progressive relaxation training, or instruction in goal-directed imagery. Responsiveness to suggestion did not differ between groups. Ss also generated open-ended reports of their states of awareness and of their experience of 3 hypnotic suggestions. A sample of these reports from 24 moderately to highly suggestible Ss were evaluated by 18 experts in the field of hypnosis. Expert ratings of Ss' open-ended reports indicated that (1) traditional hypnotic inductions produce a state of consciousness that is indistinguishable from nonhypnotic relaxation training, (2) the subjective experience of hypnotic suggestions after imagination training is indistinguishable from that after hypnotic inductions, and (3) suggestibility is unrelated to state of consciousness as assessed by experts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Memory and hypnosis: Implications for the use of forensic hypnosis.

I review arguments regarding hypnosis in forensic investigations, offer procedures of a nonhypnotic nature to enhance memory recall, and suggest guidelines for hypnosis in criminal cases. The effects of hypnosis on memory, as well as the concomitant dangers regarding those effects, are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors influencing rapport in hypnosis.

The phenomenon of countering expresses the tendency of some highly susceptible Ss to favor the intent of the hypnotist when placed in a conflict situation where social influences of another kind dictate an alternative response. The present research explored the parameters of this objective index of involvement with the hypnotist to investigate the special relevance of rapport processes to the hypnotic setting. Rapport was manipulated in 5 different experiments with highly susceptible Ss (Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A), varying either the warmth or genuineness of the hypnotist. It was predicted from transference theorizing that countering would decrease in the negative context and increase in the positive one. Results confirm predictions for highly susceptible Ss tested in the former context but not the latter. In the negative setting, Ss were inhibited in their rate of countering, but maintained their previous level of response to the hypnotist when rapport was facilitated. Results highlight the relevance of interpersonal processes to theorizing about hypnosis. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissociation theories of hypnosis.

Hypnotic responses have been attributed to 2 mechanisms that are characterized as dissociative. In E. R. Hilgard's (1986) neodissociation theory, responses are hypothesized to be due to a division of consciousness into 2 or more simultaneous streams, separated by an amnesic barrier that prevents access to suggestion-related executive functions, monitoring functions, or both. In K. S. Bowers's (1992) dissociated control theory, hypnotic inductions are hypothesized to weaken frontal control of behavioral schemas, thereby allowing direct activation of behavior by the hypnotist's suggestions. The authors review the empirical base, conceptual issues, and strengths and weaknesses of both theories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physiological effects of hypnosis.

There are many studies indicating that sensory, circulatory, gastrointestinal, and cutaneous functions can be altered by means of hypnosis. There also are many studies indicating that similar physiological effects can be produced by symbolic stimulation without hypnosis. The assumption that hypnotic behavior is a function of the trance state is open to question. From Psyc Abstracts 36:01:3II90B. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Escape from the ambiguous: Artifact and methodologies of hypnosis.

Examines 2 methodologies of hypnosis and the possible sources of artifact in each-M. T. Orne's real-simulating model and W. C. Coe's operational paradigm. Each method is applied to a theoretical issue in hypnosis (i.e., the problem of explaining the relationship between hypnotist and S during trance). Replication of the hypnotist-expectancy effect across both models rules out in each case a rival hypothesis to explain the Ss' behavior. Artifact is essential to the spirit of impartial scientific inquiry, since coping with artifact constitutes a check on the validity of inferences and diminishes ambiguity. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The nature of hypnosis: Artifact and essence.

An experimental analysis of the part played by preconceived ideas about the phenomenon and the motivation of the S in hypnosis. The difference between genuine and feigned trances is discussed along with a discussion of the theoretical application of the present and previous research. 33 refs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Strategy manipulation and the Stroop effect in hypnosis.

When asked to name the ink color of an incompatible color word (e.g., the word red printed in green ink), people show strong interference from the word. This phenomenon—the Stroop effect—has become a benchmark measure of attention, and is notoriously difficult to modulate. This study examined Stroop interference in subjects who were either high or low in susceptibility to hypnosis. Compared with performance in the waking state, the Stroop effect actually increased under hypnosis, a result particularly evident in the high-susceptible subjects. This contradicts the notion that high-susceptible subjects freely select appropriate strategies when hypnotized, a conclusion strengthened by an analysis of reported strategies in the two states. However, when provided with an attentional focusing instruction under hypnosis, high-susceptible subjects sharply reduced the Stroop effect, whereas low-susceptible subjects decreased it only slightly. One role of hypnosis may be to assist the subject in tuning attention, but only when an appropriate strategy is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Divergence or convergence in hypnosis research.

Responds to comments by L. R. Lieberman (1975) on T. X. Barber and N. P. Spanos's (1974) work on convergence in hypnosis research and refutes Lieberman's criticism about cooperativeness in hypnotic responsiveness and involved imagining. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in longevity by state

The latest state data just released from the National Center for Health Statistics reveal that men and women living in Hawaii can expect, on the average, to live longer than those residing in any other state. During 1989-91 expectation of life at birth for all residents of the United States was 71.8 for boys and 78.8 for girls. In Hawaii, however, average future lifetime for newborn boys was 75.4 years and 81.3 for girls. For infant boys, the states that followed in rank order were Utah, Minnesota and North Dakota. Among baby girls, the leading states were North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. On the other hand, the District of Columbia, on average, experienced the least favorable longevity. For each sex, geographic longevity disparities diminish with advance in age. Yet, for almost the entire age range, Hawaii still remained the state with the best longevity outlook. Among the next most desirable areas, the rankings shifted positions, somewhat. Even so, North Dakota, Minnesota and Utah usually recorded the highest state life expectancies. These same states also ranked best during 1979-81. Between 1979-81 and 1989-91, on a state-by-state basis, life expectancy gains generally were larger among men than among women.     

Time distortion and hypnotic ability: Underestimating the duration of hypnosis.

In a replication of previous research, 3 different samples of Ss (109 Ss) underestimated the length of time they were hypnotized. However, as in a previous investigation, there was no significant relation between Ss' hypnotizability and the amount of temporal foreshortening of the hypnotic interval. A small subset of Ss (13–23%) in each of 3 separate samples overestimated instead of underestimated the length of time they had been hypnotized. When this small group of overestimators is set aside, the correlations between hypnotic ability and temporal estimates become significant for each of the 3 (sub)samples of underestimators—ranging from –.41 to –.53. It is demonstrated that these correlations could not be accounted for by R. F. Ornstein's (1969) storage-size hypothesis, but were probably due to Ss of varying hypnotizability becoming differentially absorbed in the hypnotic proceedings. This understanding is consistent with work in time perception showing that imaginative absorption leads to a foreshortening of time. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward a convergence in hypnosis research.

Theory construction and research in the area of hypnosis centers around 2 alternative paradigms. One paradigm employs hypothetical constructs such as "hypnotic state" and "trance" to organize the data, while the alternative paradigm rejects these constructs and employs others more closely tied to contemporary social psychology. Recent theoretical formulations proffered by major proponents of both paradigms are reviewed. It is concluded that the 2 paradigms appear to be moving toward a rapproachment on 2 broad generalizations: (a) A willingness to cooperate with the hypnotist constitutes an important but not sufficient condition for hypnotic performance. (b) Ss respond overtly and experientially to hypnotic suggestions when they become involved in suggestion-related imaginings. The empirical evidence supporting both generalizations is summarized, and future research directions are indicated. (96 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trance logic in hypnosis and imagination.

Investigated, in 2 experiments, trance logic, or the tolerance of logical incongruity, in age regression and hallucination. Exp 1 tested 21 hypnotizable and 19 unhypnotizable Ss in an application of the real-simulating model of hypnosis. Exp 2 tested 26 high and 19 low imagery ability Ss in an adaptation of the model to the imagination context. Ss' experiences were investigated through the experimenal analysis technique. More real than simulating Ss displayed trance logic during age regression, but they did not differ on the major measures of trance logic during hallucination. This pattern of responding occurred in both the hypnosis and the imagination contexts. Ss' comments suggested that completeness of and belief in age regression or hallucination may play some role in trance logic. The importance of understanding trance logic from the S's point of view is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The clinical use of hypnosis.

Reviews recent experimental evidence on the hypnotic treatment of obesity, cigarette smoking, alcoholism, clinical pain, warts, and asthma. It is concluded that although hypnosis may be effective with addictive behavior, the therapeutic success is attributable to nonhypnotic factors. In contrast, hypnosis appears to be of unique value in the treatment of clinical pain, warts, and asthma. Differential effectiveness may be attributable to the nature of the disorders or to the manner in which hypnosis is used in treating them. The relevance of hypnotizability to treatment is discussed, as is the need to distinguish between genuine and placebo-based hypnotic effects. It is concluded that future research must be more attentive to the (a) nature of the disorders and patient populations, (b) adequate implementation of therapeutic techniques, (c) context in which treatment is delivered, and (d) influence of hypnotic susceptibility and other S factors on outcome. (4? p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Animal hypnosis: Factual status of a fictional concept.

Notes that animal hypnosis, or tonic immobility, is an easily induced and readily quantifiable phenomenon found in many different species. Recent findings on the behavioral, ecological, chemical, neurological, genetic, and ontogenetic aspects of animal hypnosis are reviewd in light of current and historical interpretations. The response seems to be quite sensitive to manipulations designed to affect fear. In terms of adaptive significance, the reaction can be modified through selective breeding, and both naturalistic as well as laboratory investigations bolster the thesis that tonic immobility may participate in the ecology of predator-prey relationships. (93 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Eyewitness memory enhancement in the police interview: Cognitive retrieval mnemonics versus hypnosis.

Compared the effectiveness of 3 interview procedures for optimizing eyewitness memory performance: the cognitive interview based on memory-retrieval mnemonics from current memory theory, the presently controversial hypnosis interview, and the standard (control) police interview. Interviews were conducted in a controlled, yet ecologically valid, laboratory setting. 89 undergraduates viewed police training films of simulated violent crimes and were questioned individually in interactive interviews 48 hrs later by 1 of 16 law-enforcement personnel who had completed a 40-hr course in forensic hypnosis and had field experience of at least 100 cases. Results show that both the cognitive and hypnosis procedures elicited a significantly greater number of correct items of information from Ss than did the standard interview. This result, which held even for the most critical facts from the films, was most pronounced for crime scenarios in which the density of events was high. The number of incorrect items of information generated did not differ across the 3 interview conditions. The observed memory enhancement is interpreted in terms of the memory-guidance techniques common to both the cognitive and hypnosis interviews. Neither differential questioning time nor heightened S or interviewer motivation could explain the results. (56 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Artifact in the "essence of hypnosis": An evaluation of trance logic.

Assigned 70 female student nurses to 1 of 3 treatment conditions: hypnotic induction, instructions to simulate hypnosis, or imagination control. All Ss were assessed on M. Orne's (see record 1960-05341-001) 2 indexes of trance logic (the transparent and the double hallucination). The imagination controls consistently showed trance logic as often as the hypnotic Ss. Depending upon the stringency of the criterion for hallucination, the simulating Ss showed trance logic less often, as often, or more often than the hypnotic Ss and the imagination controls. In the 2nd phase of the investigation, 6 simulating Ss consistently manifested trance logic as often as 5 highly selected "somnambulistic" hypnotic Ss. Since trance logic was not found to be a discriminating characteristic of hypnotic Ss, investigators who seek the "essence of hypnosis" must now search elsewhere. (25 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward an explanation of stage hypnosis.

Explains stage hypnosis by 8 principles which do not utilize the concept of hypnotic state or trance. To produce an amazing performance, stage hypnotists rely primarily on (a) the high base rate of waking suggestibility, (b) a highly selective procedure for screening Ss, (c) the heightened suggestibility that is produced when the situation is defined to Ss as hypnosis, and (d) important social-psychological variables that are present in the stage situation. In addition, some stage hypnotists at times use (e) the "stage whispers" technique (in which Ss are told privately, in whispers, to help make the demonstration a success); (f) the "failure to challenge" technique, where the audience is misled; (g) trained Ss to carry out the difficult stunts, and (h) 1 or more tricks, e.g., pressure on the carotid baroreceptors which produces stupor. (25 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)