Theories of Hypnosis Flashcards
What are the three competing explanations for how hypnosis works?
Dissociation theories (state hypothesis), Social Cognitive theories (un-state hypothesis), Synergistic model (Integrative, non-state hypothesis)
What are the sub-theories of the state/ dissociation theories?
Neo-dissociation theory (Hilgard) & Dissociated control theory (Bowers and Woody)
What are the sub-theories of social theories?
Social-cognitive theory (Spanos) & Socio-cognitive theory (Kirsch and Lynn)
What claims characterize state theories?
Hypnotic inductions produce an altered state of consciousness, hypnotic trance is associated with an altered state of brain function, responses to hypnotic suggestions are a result of special processes (ex: dissociation), hypnotizability is remarkably stable over long periods
What claims characterize non-state theories?
Participants respond to suggestion almost as well without hypnosis, participants in hypnosis experiments are actively engaged, responses to suggestions are a product of normal psychological processes (ex: attitudes, motivation), suggestibility can be modified with drugs or psychological procedures. Overall - denial that hypnosis produces an altered state of consciousness (instead ‘beliefs and expectations’ make one hypnotized)
What is the neo-dissociation theory?
Hypnosis dissociates (or isolates) the Executive Ego, so that part of it is under direct control of hypnotic instructions. Hypnosis creates a division of awareness in which a person simultaneously experiences two streams of consciousness that are cut off from one another - one stream responds to hypnosis and one stream is a ‘hidden observer’. The dissociation between streams accounts for why responding to hypnosis feels involuntary
What did Hilgard argue about cognition?
It involved multiple systems of control that are not all conscious at the same time. They are controlled and motivated by a central ‘Executive ego’
What is one problem with the Neo-Dissociation theory?
Only half of the highly hypnotizable subjects demonstrate the hidden observer effect
What is the Dissociated Control Theory?
Hypnotic induction weakens the Executive Ego so that the control structures are directly affected by hypnotic suggestions. When paths are weakened, the participant’s sense of agency is weakened
What is one problem with State theories?
They have difficulty explaining hypnotizability (can only describe it as some sort of malfunction)
How did Orne (1959) provide evidence for Social Cognitive theories?
In an experiment, subjects were told prior to being hypnotized that a common feature of a ‘trance’ is arm levitation -> while hypnotized many of them displayed spontaneous arm levitation (but the control group did not). This means the experimental group was influenced by the expectation
What is the Social-Cognitive theory?
Social context affects us more than we expect and hypnosis is a social influence situation in which we misattribute our actions to hypnosis (which makes the actions feel involuntary). Role enactment leads to believed-in imagining
What is the Socio-Cognitive theory?
There is no evidence for there being a distinct state of hypnosis (hypnotic induction increases responsiveness by only a small amount which can be explained by expectation). Subjects expect that their cognitive control structures will be triggered by hypnotic suggestions which then shape their responses and interpretations.
What is the Synergistic model?
It emphasizes hypnotizability and hypnosis as a context. Behaviours and experiences are then shaped by the context and abilities.
How does the Synergistic model explain feelings of involuntariness?
Involuntariness is a consequence of automaticity of processing and expectations and beliefs
