Do individual differences in “imaginative suggestibility” provide a simpler explanation than dissociation in explaining responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions?
Dissociation theories of hypnosis (e.g. Hilgard’s neodissociation theory, Wood & Bower’s dissociated control theory) propose that hypnosis produces ‘splits’ or dissociations in systems of cognitive control. Consistent with this there is evidence that hypnotisability is higher in patients with ‘dissociative’ disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder. However, dissociation theories also predict that healthy people who dissociate more in day-to-day life should also be more hypnotisable. This doesn’t seem to be the case: studies correlating hypnotic suggestibility with scores on the dissociative experience scale (DES) aren’t significant. (e.g. Dienes et al, 2009). Given this, it doesn’t seem as though dissociation is terribly valuable when trying to explain responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions. On the other hand, scores of imaginative suggestibility (non-hypnotic suggestibility) tend to correlate very highly with hypnotic suggestibility (Kirsch & Braffman, 2001). This indicates th
Related Questions
- Do individual differences in inhibition of return and single target discrimination ability affect visual search efficiency?
- Why don differences in the plans cited above constitute discrimination against a qualified individual with a disability?
- Are individual differences in fantasy play related to peer acceptance levels?
