Simulation, surreptitious observation and the modification of hypnotizability: two tests of the compliance hypothesis

Abstract

AbstractIn Experiment 1, two groups of subjects low in hypnotizability were administered the full Carleton Skills Training Package (CSTP) to enhance hypnotizability and two groups were given a partial version of the CSTP, which eliminates information aimed at teaching an active interpretation of suggestions. Half the subjects given the full CSTP and half given the partial CSTP were instructed to fake their way through the training and later hypnotizability post‐tests. Simulators in both the full and partial group exhibited equivalently high post‐test scores, but non‐simulators given the full CSTP attained higher post‐test scores than non‐simulators given the partial CSTP. These findings suggest that the partial and full CSTP contain equivalent compliance demands and that differences between these procedures in enhancing hypnotizability stems from the interpretational skills taught by the full CSTP. In Experiment 2, hypnotic post‐test responding was surreptitiously observed when subjects believed that they were alone. Simulators instructed to fake their way through the CSTP and the post‐test stopped responding when they believed they were alone. CSTP non‐simulators and subjects who attained high hypnotizability without training exhibited high levels of post‐test responding while alone. Together the findings of the two experiments indicate that compliance cannot account adequately for the hypnotizability enhancements induced by skill training. Copyright © 1996 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis