SURREPTITIOUSLY OBSERVED HYPNOTIC RESPONDING IN SIMULATORS AND IN SKILL-TRAINED AND UNTRAINED HIGH HYPNOTIZABLES

Low-hypnotizable Ss (LHs) administered cognitive skill training exhibi ted substantially higher posttest hypnotizability than LHs administere d no treatment. Next, the Ss in these 2 conditions as well as Ss who a ttained high hypnotizability without training and LHs instructed to fa ke hypnosis (i.e., simulators) were individually tested for hypnotizab ility twice while their responses were recorded by a hidden camera. In the individual session, Ss were first tested for hypnotizability whil e alone and then tested again in the presence of an experimenter. The skill-trained Ss and high-hypnotizable controls attained equivalent (h igh) hypnotizability scores with the experimenter both absent and pres ent. However, when the experimenter was absent, the simulators exhibit ed lowered hypnotizability and apparently failed to adopt the hypnotic role. These findings contradict the hypothesis that high hypnotizabil ity in skill-trained Ss reflects compliant responding.