Author's comment: 20% of people are not hypnotizable

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Permalink Reply by Celeste Hackett, CH on October 18, 2011 at 3:16pm

It's not at all true.

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Permalink Reply by Ricky Strode on October 18, 2011 at 3:25pm

I have wrote many blogs on this. There seems be this stupid idea that was fostered by horrible research done by Henry Hilgard, but it is total nonsense.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on October 18, 2011 at 3:34pm

I like a lot of Hilgard's research, but this is a huge error on his part that has become pervasive in this industry.  

 

20% of specific volunteers didn't get the result he wanted, using a specific technique, in a specific situation.

 

I've personally worked with people who have been "proven" by Hilgard's study to be non-hypnotizable.  They got great results.  

 

What kind of "research" did that author do?  

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Permalink Reply by Tim Shay on October 18, 2011 at 3:35pm

So you are saying that based on the author's research he has found himself developing perceptual or conceptual biases about suggestibility?  What is he suggesting? LOL.  The daft man is in a trance all of his own accord :-)

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Atkinson on October 18, 2011 at 3:42pm

@ Tim: I am not actually "saying" anything other than I do not agree with her statement, and that I think her findings are flawed.

I am of the opinion the writer is not a hypnotist, but wrote an article based on research.  She said she received her information from two "well respected" experts in the field, and she did not specify who these experts were.

 

 

Tim Shay said:

So you are saying that based on the author's research he has found himself developing perceptual or conceptual biases about suggestibility?  What is he suggesting? LOL.  The daft man is in a trance all of his own accord :-)

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Permalink Reply by Celeste Hackett, CH on October 18, 2011 at 3:46pm

Inexperienced hypnotists tend to think things can't be done until someone comes along and does them. Just like setting new records in sports and other endeavors which require faith and thoughtful perseverance, great hypnotists learn to hypnotize when everyone else would throw in the towel. 

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Atkinson on October 18, 2011 at 3:50pm

@ Celeste, Ricky, & Scott:

I am in agreement with all of you. 

Personally, I dislike any predictibility as to a person's ability to go into trance ... I have had several sessions with people who have told me that they are not hypnotizable, only to find that not only are they hypnotizable, they are also highly suggestible.

Was curious what others thought about the author's comments.   Thanks

 

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Permalink Reply by Richard Nongard - NLPBoard.com on October 18, 2011 at 3:50pm

As Scott pointed out, this comes from early research using specific methods as they began for the first time serious research into hypnosis/

Basically, in order to research something, in this case outcomes of hypnosis, everyone must have the same induction and process.  And of course grad students are doing the "hypnosis".

 

And of course, 20% were non-responders.  Psychologists (the one who have perpetuated the 20% myth) have always highlighted this statistic.   What i always highlight is:

"Holy mackarel!   People are so hypnotizable that 80% of the people who were read a boring PMR script, by an untrained grad student, who probably is uninterested in the project, actually responded with measurable results!"

 

That is that statistic that is far more interesting.   80%   respond to essentially untrained people reading boring scripts! (No wonder the chain/franchise hypnosis centers still get success stories)

 

When I read a writer or website that quotes this 20% figure, I know I am dealing with a writer with little understanding of the true nature of hypnosis, and generally stop reading.... Usually as you pointed out, someone who also does not understand how research is conducted and statistical methods...

 

In reality we all know that 100% of the people on earth can be hypnotized because hypnosis is a natural process, one we experience every day - with or without a hypnotist.  It's just that 20% won't repond to a n untrained grad student reading a script in a way the grad student deems important.....

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on October 18, 2011 at 4:16pm

Not to mention, Richard, that that 20% were also grad students, not exactly a unbiased sampling of the general population!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Clark MFT on October 18, 2011 at 5:12pm

Yes, behavioral research is hard to extrapolate to the general population in most cases as is much of the medical research we are provided.

 

I am curious what members here would have to say if the statement made was something like:

"Hypnotherapy may not be an effective treatment modality for 20% of the population." 

 

Richard

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on October 18, 2011 at 6:36pm

I'd rather say something like: "I find that around 1 out of 5 of my clients get the results they want really fast, 3 out of 5 get there within a few hours of session work and the rest take a little bit longer. By the end of our meeting we'll have a pretty good idea on how to proceed."

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Permalink Reply by Tim Shay on October 18, 2011 at 7:43pm

@Dennis:
I apologize if I, unintentionally, singled you out in that statement. It was meant as a "tongue in cheek". I thought was poking fun at the author of the article. No offense intended. 

Dennis Atkinson said:

@ Tim: I am not actually "saying" anything other than I do not agree with her statement, and that I think her findings are flawed.

I am of the opinion the writer is not a hypnotist, but wrote an article based on research.  She said she received her information from two "well respected" experts in the field, and she did not specify who these experts were.

 

 

Tim Shay said:

So you are saying that based on the author's research he has found himself developing perceptual or conceptual biases about suggestibility?  What is he suggesting? LOL.  The daft man is in a trance all of his own accord :-)

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