METHODOLOGICAL AND EMPIRICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ASSESSING THE VALIDITYOF PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORIES OF HYPNOSIS

After a brief discussion of psychoanalytic theories of hypnosis, I hav e reviewed relevant experimental literature to assess the validity of the theories and examined the methodological issues central to appropr iate research design in this area as a way to evaluate past research a nd to suggest future areas of study. I have concluded that most resear ch on psychoanalytic constructs in hypnosis has been methodologically inadequate; and although certain psychoanalytic constructs (e.g., adap tive regression, transference) can be useful for an understanding of t he hypnotic experiences of subgroups of individuals, past theories are not supported by available data.