Dr. Steve G. Jones's video: Hypnotic Suggestibility Tests

Find out how hypnotically-suggestible you are NOW: https://DrSteveGJones.com How do you know if you can be hypnotized? Hypnotic suggestibility is a mystery to so many people. I’m here to tell you it’s all about understanding the research. I’m going to show you what the research tells us about the factors that affect how easy or difficult it would be to hypnotize a particular person. You’re also going to find out how suggestible YOU are, because I have a test you can do on yourself. But first, let’s look at why we should be concerned with hypnotic suggestibility in the first place… Hypnotic suggestibility testing has existed in some form since Mesmer popularized hypnosis in the latter 18th century. It was not until the mid 20th century, however, that it passed through the prism of scientific scrutiny. Hypnotic suggestibility is a somewhat controversial subject. There are some people who believe it is not necessary for hypnosis to be successful. There are others who believe it is an integral part of hypnosis, especially when using it for research and the treatment of certain issues. Hypnotic suggestibility testing is an assessment done to find out your level of hypnotizability. Hypnotizability has been defined by APA Division 30 as “an individual’s ability to experience suggested alterations in physiology, sensations, emotions, thoughts, or behavior during hypnosis.” There are various kinds of measures used to test suggestibility. Some measures are more scientifically based while others are very informal. For example, when using hypnosis for research purposes you will want to use a scientifically validated assessment measure, such as the Stanford scales. When using it for entertainment or certain clinical purposes, however, a single quick method, such as “magnetic hands” could be used. There are many fast and simple suggestibility tests that are used for non-research purposes. For example, when using “magnetic hands” the client is asked to imagine that their hands, which are facing each other a few inches apart, are being pulled together like magnets. For the purposes of this video, the term hypnotizability will be used interchangeably with hypnotic suggestibility and hypnotic susceptibility. There are multiple reasons people use hypnotic suggestibility testing, including the following reasons: 1. It Helps Select the Most Effective Hypnosis Method. A hypnotist uses an induction to put you in a mental state that prepares you to be hypnotized. Usually, an induction involves some form of relaxation. A client may be instructed to close their eyes and practice some deep breathing, for example. Because assessments use different types of inductions and suggestions (e.g., motor vs. cognitive) it gives the hypnotist insight into which types would help produce the most hypnotizable state. Suggestibility testing can help you find out if the subject is more visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. 2. It Provides a Warm Up It is important that the client is in the proper frame of mind to help make hypnosis successful. A warm up assists the client in obtaining the proper focus. In addition, any anxiety that the client feels can be reduced by the testing; It helps them to get used to the process. If the testing shows that a person is hypnotizable, it leads the subject to believe that hypnotism will work for them. As a result, they will have increased confidence in the procedure, and it is more likely to be successful.