1. Acting As If You Are Hypnotized
By: Lindsey Peck and Colleen Ahearn

2. Background
Common belief that hypnotized was a separate/unique state of awareness
Mesmerize acquired from Mesmer created first example of hypnosis
Used by Freud in psychoanalytic techniques
Ernest Hilgard – 6 descriptions of hypnosis
Nicholas Spanos – does NOT involve alternate state of consciousness

3. Method Findings taken from 16 studies Involved in all experiments
Purpose to contradict Hilgard and popular belief that hypnosis is a unique state of consciousness

4. Findings and Conclusions
Behavior is involuntary
Suggestion vs. instruction
Raising arm vs. lowering arm
People become absorbed in these imaginary strategies and convince themselves behavior is involuntary

5. Findings and Conclusions
Creation of expectations
3 main studies
1. Difference in lectures
2. Comparing experiences with vivid imagery
3. Altering amount of information given about experiment

6. Significance Not denying the actual existence of hypnosis
Hypnosis not an altered state of consciousness but result of motivated, goal-directed, social behavior
Hypnosis still exists because people need to believe in a last resort problem solver
Changed psychology with an alternative experimentally based explanation for hypnosis behavior

7. Recent Applications and Alternative Theories
Article in 1997, mirroring Spanos theory and supporting it
In 2003, Lynn completed a study of hypnosis as a therapeutic practice to recover repressed memories from childhood is faulty
Although he dies in a plane crash in 1994 his research has carried on
Many articles later (1993, 1998, 1999, 2000) on refuting Spanos’ theory and supporting Hilgard’s

8. Now It’s Your Turn