Body Image and Hypnotic Response

Abstract

This study has 2 principal objectives: (a) To test the hypothesis that hypnotizability is negatively related to the definiteness of the individual's body image boundary. (b) To ascertain what body image experiences are characteristic of the hypnotic state. Hypnotizability in 25 men and 42 women was evaluated with the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale. Boundary definiteness was measured by means of barrier and penetration scores derived from inkblot responses. A questionnaire was used to examine body image alterations elicited by hypnosis. In the male group, hypnotizability was negatively correlated with boundary definiteness. However, only a chance relationship between these variables appeared in the females. Of several body image parameters examined, depersonalization proved to be most characteristic of the hypnotic state.