The relationship between memory, suggestibility and hypnotic responsivity

This study investigated the relationship between resistance to misleading information and performance on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS:A), and examined the impact of obtrusive observation on subjects' hypnotic responsivity, memory, and resistance to misleading information. Eighty-five college students were administered the HGSHS:A in its standard form. Three additional bogus items were added to the HGSHS:A response booklet asking subjects to report whether they responded to suggestions that were not actually offered during the procedures. The endorsement of these items was used as an index of resistance to misleading information (suggestibility) for events occurring during hypnosis. Participants were also given a series of misleading questions related to events that occurred prior to the induction. Results indicated that performance on the HGSHS:A was not related to resistance to misleading information for events occurring during hypnosis or for events that occurred prior to the induction. As predicted, resistance to misleading information was consistent for subjects across the waking and hypnotic contexts. Also as predicted, being observed during the hypnotic procedures was related to lower scoring on the HGSHS:A.