To test Welch's behavioristic theory of hypnosis (see 22: 1050), a technique was designed to parallel the hypnotist's suggestions. Words shown on a screen were reinforced (for the experimental Ss) by the phenomena they symbolized (breeze, red, music, etc.), but not reinforced for the control Ss. After a number of trials, the words "electric shock" were shown but not reinforced. Experimental Ss tended to give strong PGRs to the words, whereas control Ss did not. This abstract conditioning to react to word symbols, in combination with higher order conditioning, could explain suggestion and dream symbolization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)