Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 8-1979 The Effects of Standardized and Personalized Hypnotic Induction Techniques on Depth of Trance William C. Schirado Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Commons Recommended Citation Schirado, William C., "The Effects of Standardized and Personalized Hypnotic Induction Techniques on Depth of Trance" (1979). Dissertations. 2703. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2703 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE EFFECTS OF STANDARDIZED AND PERSONALIZED HYPNOTIC INDUCTION TECHNIQUES ON DEPTH OF TRANCE by William C. Schirado Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Doctor of Education Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 1979 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLE DGEMENTS A special note of appreciation is extended to Dr. Robert F. Hopkins, who directed this research; and to Drs. William A. Carlson, Frederick P. Gault, and George P. Sidney, for the valuable and varied perspectives they offered throughout this research. My deepest thanks go to Drs. Hopkins and Carlson for their generous contribution of time. William C. Schirado Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This was produced from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. 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University Microfilms International Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 7926636 SCHIRADÜ, WILLIAM CHARLES THE EFFECTS OF STANDARDIZED AND PERSONALIZED HYPNOTIC INDUCTION TECHNIQUES ON DEPTH OF TRANCE, WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, ED,0,, 1979 COPR, 1979 SCHIRADO, WILLIAM CHARLES International 300 n. zeed road, ann arbor, mi 48ioc 0 1979 WILLIAM CHARLES SCHIRADO ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I The Problem ..................................... 1 II The L i t e r a t u r e ................................ 9 Personalized Techniques .................... 9 Standardized Techniques and Scales .... 12 Personalized and Standardized Techniques C o m p a r e d ................................. 19 Research Problems ........................... 25 III The Method, Subjects, Procedure .............. 29 M e t h o d ...................................... 29 S u b j e c t s .................................... 34 P r o c e d u r e .................................... 35 IV R e s u l t s ......................................... 37 V Discussion, Conclusions, Summary, Recommenda­ tions ........................................ 47 D i s c u s s i o n ................................. 47 Conclusions ................................. 51 S u m m a r y ...................................... 54 Recommendations ............................. 55 APPENDIX A Experienced Clinical Hypnotic Operator Defxned .................. 58 B Standard Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale Scor­ ing Blank, Form A, and Interrogatory Blank 60 C Equivalent Scoring Criteria .................. 64 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. D D e b r i e f i n g .................................... 66 E Preliminary Data-Gathering .................. 68 F Standard Explanation to Potential Volunteers Describing Involvement in Research Concern­ ing Hypnosis ............................... 70 G Informed Consent Form ......................... 72 H Debriefing Handout ........................... 74 I Research Data .................................. 76 REFERENCES .......................................... 78 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Two-Way Analysis of Variance: Sex and Induction Type »•••••••••••■••••••«•• 38 2. Two-Way Analysis of Variance: Experienced Clinical Hypnotic Operator and Induction Type 39 3. Two-Way Analysis of Variance: Age and Induction T y p e ................................................. 40 4. Weighted Means Analysis of Variance : Age and Induction T y p e ..................................... 41 5. Two-Way Analysis of Variance: Department and Induction T y p e ...................................... 42 6. Weighted Means Analysis of Variance : Department and Induction T y p e ................................. 43 7. One-Way Analysis of Variance: Total Sample . 44 8. Differences Between Means ........................ 45 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I The Problem The area of hypnosis received increased attention in the past decade. However, many aspects of hypnosis were in need of further investigation. One such area, regarding induction procedures, received limited attention and needs further study. This research addresses induction procedures. The scientific study of hypnotic behavior was initially hindered by the lack of systematic, standardized methods of induction and measurement necessary for control of variables and replication of research. The Barber Suggestibility Scale (BSS) and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS) addressed this problem by providing standardized formats for induction and measurement of depth of trance. However, with the introduction of standardized material, the personalized clinical practice of structuring the hypnotic induction and behavior to individuals became less suitable to laboratory settings. Hypnosis has been viewed, in general, as a highly indi­ vidualized experience (Shor & Orne, 1965; Weitzenhoffer, 1953) . Personalized (e.g., individualized, permissive) clinical hypnotic techniques address idiosyncratic needs, and it may be contended that such personalized techniques are a major factor in determining the resultant hypnotic behavior Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2 and depth of trance (Erickson, 1958, 1962, 1964b; Fromm & Shor, 1972; Hull, 1933; Weitzenhoffer, 1963). If personal­ ized techniques are of major consequence in the induction and depth of trance, standardized inductions and suggestibility scales may not offer a suitable comparison to the traditional, personalized clinical setting (Handler & Gridner, 1975; Erickson, 1954a, 1960, 1965, 1966a; Gindes, 1951; Greene, 1970; Hartland, 1966; Spiegel, 1959; Wilson, 1967). The question arises as to whether or not laboratory research in the area of hypnosis, using standardized induction techniques, is comparable to hypnosis as practiced in the clinical set­ ting, using personalized induction techniques. In looking for possible differences between these two general methods of induction, it is noted that a "high" inci­ dence of nonresponsive subjects has been reported in stand­ ardized laboratory research, as compared to reported person­ alized clinical experience (Dana & Cooper, 1964 ; Davis & Husband, 19 31 ; Deckert & West, 196 3; Dermen & London, 1965 ; Faw & Wilcox, 1958; Furneaux & Gibson, 1961; Hilgard, Weit- zenhoffer, Landes, & Moore, 1961; Hilgard & Bentler, 1963; Melie & Hilgard, 1964; Rosenhan & London, 1963; Shor, Orne, & O'Connell, 1966; Tart & Hilgard, 1966). No mutual criteria have been applied