Automaticity in clinical psychology

The authors provide an overview of the literature on the ability of respons e expectancies to elicit automatic responses in the form of self-fulfilling prophecies and link it to the broader psychological investigation of autom atic processes. The authors review 3 areas of research in which response ex pectancies have been shown to affect experience, behavior, and physiology: placebo effects, the effects of false biofeedback on sexual arousal, and th e alteration of perceptual and cognitive functions by hypnotic and nonhypno tic suggestion. Also reviewed are data suggesting that all behavior includi ng novel and intentional behavior is initiated automatically. Following thi s review, the authors summarize some of the ways in which knowledge of resp onse expectancy effects and other automatic processes that influence experi ence and behavior can enhance clinical practice.