DANISH NORMS FOR THE HARVARD GROUP SCALE OF HYPNOTIC-SUSCEPTIBILITY, FORM-A

Norms for a Danish adaptation of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic S usceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) are presented. Four samples tested fro m 1988 to 1991 (n = 166, n = 54, n = 95, and n = 61) were pooled, resu lting in an aggregate sample of 376 participants. The normative data w ere generally congruent with earlier normative studies with regard to score distribution, item difficulty levels, and reliability. Studies u sing the Danish adaptation of the HGSHS:A as a screening instrument ha ve shown the predictive value of the instrument in a Danish context. D ata for a comparable American sample of volunteers (n = 170) tested by the same hypnotist were included in the analysis. A comparison reveal ed a marked difference for the posthypnotic suggestion item, hinting t hat cultural differences between the Danish and American samples with regard to expectancies and attitudes toward hypnosis may play a role. Further studies comparing attitudes toward hypnosis across different c ultural contexts are needed to clarify this issue.