Physiological Responses of Unhypnotized Subjects to Attitude Suggestions

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Abstract
Two attitude suggestions were made to unhypnotized subjects in an attempt to produce physiological changes similar to those obtained previously with hypnotized subjects. The suggestions were statements of attitudes found clinically to be associated with hives and with essential hypertension. Under hypnosis, the suggestions had produced specific and appropriate physiological changes. In a replication experiment, normal unhypnotized subjects did not show the same differential responses as hypnotized subjects although they showed as much physiological responsiveness over-all. When procedures were modified in a second experiment to elicit greater involvement of subjects, the response was more similar to that of hypnotized subjects. Rating scales indicated that subjects interpreted the suggestions correctly and were equally but only mildly aroused by them. An additional finding was that subjects who volunteered for a hypnosis experiment but were given waking suggestions did not differ from those who volunteered for a waking experiment.

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