A study of the relationship between hypnotic responsiveness and dichotic stimulation task performance
Date
1981
Authors
Wilkinson, Rosemary Ann
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Abstract
The research addressed two issues: firstly the difference in information processing style of subjects of varying degrees of hypnotic responsiveness; secondly, the prediction of hypnotic responsiveness.
To test the first question, lateral ear preference scores on two dichotic stimulation tasks were compared with scores on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: form C (SHSS:C). To test the second question, the prediction of hypnotic responsiveness, four predictive tests were given to subjects: conjugate lateral eye movements, eye roll, handclasp and a visual imagery task. Results of these tasks were compared with scores on the SHSS:C.
Sixty right-handed male and female volunteer subjects, mainly university students and staff were used. Analysis of the data did not detect any relationship between lateral ear preference in these dichotic stimulation and hypnotic responsiveness as measured by the SHSS:C, for the particular population tested. None of the four predictive tests either singly or in combination predicted scores on the scale of hypnotic responsiveness, the SHSS:C.